Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo has been cleared to begin workouts at Globe Life Field, the team announced Friday.
Gallo had previously tested positive for COVID-19 following tests on June 27 and July 2. There had been some uncertainty as other follow-up tests had come up negative. Gallo had remained asymptomatic from the virus.
There had been some uncertainty as to whether Gallo had the virus. He conducted two nasal swab tests over 10 days that produced negative results. He also had two positive test results over that same time span using MLB’s saliva swab test.
“We rightly want to protect these players’ health and safety related to the virus,” Gallo’s agent, Scott Boras, told The News’ Evan Grant. “But the other factor is their ability to get ready for the season. We want and need these tests correctly to protect the players from getting the virus and we have to consider that, but we also have to consider the health and safety of the individual player. We need immediacy to the process so it doesn’t also impact the player’s ability to get ready for the season if there is supporting evidence behind him.”
It is unclear if Gallo took an antibody test upon his return. Antibody tests determine if someone has already had the coronavirus.
Gallo was out on the field before the team’s intrasquad game Friday. He didn’t play in the game. He was not made available to the media Friday.
Rangers manager Chris Woodward said he expects his slugger to be ready for opening day but wants to make sure he eases him into feeling good, even if Gallo feels the urge to quickly make up for the lost week.
“We’ve got to be careful with Joey,” Woodward said. “It was really good to see him, good to see him taking BP. We’ve just got to be careful obviously in game situations. He’s probably just going to take some live at-bats tomorrow.”
Get the cardboard: Since fans will not be permitted at the start of the 2020 season, the Rangers announced the use of cardboard cutouts of fans to be the first occupants of Globe Life Field.
The images will be likenesses of fans and will be called DoppleRangers. They can be purchased at $50 per person to benefit the team’s foundation.
“We’ve got to get creative,” Woodward said. “If that’s what it takes for a little sense of normalcy, I’m down for it. I’ve watched the games in Korea where they’ve got [stuffed animals] in the stands. It’s pretty cool.”
The Rangers pumped in crowd noise for the intrasquad game Friday, and public address announcer Chuck Morgan announced player names to prepare for the upcoming regular season.
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