MIAMI — The 2020 Major League Baseball season is off to a rocky start for one team.
Multiple sources say more than a dozen players and coaches with the Miami Marlins have recently tested positive for the coronavirus.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, at least 14 people within the Marlins' organization have tested positive for COVID-19. Because of this, the team is still in Philadelphia and continues to undergo testing.
CEO Derek Jeter says that means the home opener in Miami against the Baltimore Orioles has been postponed.
Jeter said in a statement, "The health of our players and staff has been and will continue to be our primary focus as we navigate through these unchartered waters. After a successful Spring 2.0, we have now experienced challenges once we went on the road and left Miami. Postponing tonight's home opener was the correct decision to endure we take a collective pause and try to properly grasp the totality of this situation. We have conducted another round of testing for our players and staff, and our team will all remain in Philidelphia pending the results of those tests, which we expect later today. We will provide additional information as it becomes available."
Ken Rosenthal, an MLB insider and senior writer for The Athletic, also reported four Marlins learned they were positive for COVID-19 in the span of three days.
According to Rosenthal, two infectious disease experts say the positive results fit the description of "a clear outbreak" within the club.
The Marlins postponed their flight home Sunday night after their series finale against the Phillies, the Associated Press reported. Jose Urena was scratched from his scheduled start in Sunday's Game, and catcher Jorge Alfaro went on the injured list Friday. No reasons were given for the moves, but manager Don Mattingly said those who tested positive would be quarantined in Philadelphia.
The Athletic called into question why the Marlins played Sunday night's game against the Phillies if they knew about players and coaches testing positive before the game.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.