San Diego Padres News: Another player tests positive for coronavirus

Jorge Mateo joins Tommy Pham as the two members of the San Diego Padres who have tested positive for coronavirus.

While Tommy Pham continues his recovery back from coronavirus, Jorge Mateo, too, will be out for an unknown period of time. The 25-year-old has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus, but his symptoms are improving, according to San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler.

Mateo was an international free agent signing by the Yankees but came over to the Oakland Athletics via the Sonny Gray trade. Last year, he posted a .289/.330/.504 slash line with 29 doubles, 14 triples, 19 home runs, and 78 RBI for Triple-A Las Vegas. He has crazy speed as well, swiping 24 bags in 2019.

While he primarily played shortstop and second base in the minors, the Padres were reportedly going to try him in centerfield. However, it’ll be interesting to see how the recovery time, away from the workouts and intrasquad games, impacts his roster spot.

The Padres are set in the outfield with Pham, Trent Grisham, and Wil Myers as the presumed starters with the likes of Franchy Cordero, Josh Naylor, and Taylor Trammell all fighting for playing time. It’s not an ideal situation by any means, and I doubt he’s the last one to test positive for the virus, as bad as that sounds, but MLB needs to expedite the testing results.

As for Mateo, assuming he recovers, he’ll now have the more difficult task of trying to convince  Tingler that he’s worthy of regular playing time in a shortened season. Luckily for him, the Padres can use his speed in several scenarios.

Get well, kid.