The Red Sox have placed designated hitter/outfielder J.D. Martinez on the COVID-19 related injured list, the team announced before Saturday’s game against the Orioles.
In a corresponding move, the Sox recalled infielder Michael Chavis from the alternate training site.
Martinez, 33, was initially held out of Saturday’s contest against Baltimore due to his feeling under the weather and experiencing cold symptoms.
Because of those symptoms, Martinez had to be placed in MLB’s COVID-19 protocol, which requires two negative COVID tests before he is cleared to return to baseball activities.
The three-time All-Star has already taken a rapid test and will need to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test as well.
The Red Sox seem confident that Martinez only has a cold and will be ready to go on Sunday after testing negative twice.
“From our end, we do believe he’s going to be back with us tomorrow,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said during his pregame media availability on Saturday.
In Martinez’s place, Chavis has been called up from the Sox’ alternate training site. The 25-year-old infielder had been one of five players traveling with the team as part of their taxi squad for the first road trip of the season.
Catcher Chris Herrmann, outfielder Cesar Puello, and pitchers Colten Brewer and Ryan Weber are the other four players who comprise Boston’s taxi squad.
(Picture of J.D. Martinez: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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