Sick D-backs OF David Peralta took 4 COVID-19 tests before returning
Jul 6, 2020, 7:43 PM | Updated: 9:55 pm
David Peralta #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 22, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta’s situation for the past week-plus is a good example of how much things can be halted for players and/or teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peralta started feeling sick a little over a week ago, and all of MLB was reporting on July 1 for mandatory testing before the start of summer camp two days later.
That meant Peralta had to wait, even if, as it turns out, he didn’t have the coronavirus. He tested negative on four separate occasions before getting the go-ahead on Monday to participate in summer camp for the first time.
“I went through all the steps, so I’m happy I’m here,” he said Monday.
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D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said he was communicating with Peralta throughout the process.
“We just wanted to give his body a chance to heal and recuperate,” Lovullo said Monday.
Peralta said he started feeling better in the second half of last week and labeled himself as 100% at the moment.
“I was really surprised (and) happy at the same time,” he said of not testing positive.
The time away certainly didn’t appear to throw Peralta off his game. In the D-backs’ intrasquad game Monday, Peralta hit a single and a home run.
“Basically jumps into some live situations in his first at-bats and looks like he has not missed a beat,” Lovullo said.
Peralta has been the D-backs’ every-day left fielder since 2015. Over six seasons, he’s hitting .290 for Arizona with an OPS of .824. In an injury-shortened 2019, Peralta posted a .275 batting average with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs.
