Chris Sale didn’t start spring training with his teammates. A mild case of pneumonia held him back.
Now, he’s wondering if that illness could be the novel coronavirus that has become a global pandemic.
“If I had it, somebody in my family and a lot of people at the park would have been infected,” the injured Red Sox ace told reporters during a conference call. “It has definitely crossed my mind.”
Sale did test negative for influenza in February, before testing for coronavirus became widespread. He hopes that an antibody test, whenever one comes available, will reveal if he had coronavirus.
Multiple Red Sox minor leaguers were quarantined due to coronavirus concerns at the beginning of spring training. And one minor-league player in their system did test positive near the end of last month. Two Yankees minor leaguers have also tested positive for coronavirus.
Whether or not there is a baseball season, he won’t be a part of it. The hard-throwing southpaw recently underwent Tommy John Surgery that ended his year. On Thursday he can began rehabbing after getting his cast off.
“If you’re telling me the only thing I have to do is work hard at rehabbing this elbow, we’re in,” Sale said. “There’s no more discussion.”