Commissioner: Decision imminent on MLB games in Puerto Rico
The Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates will find out within the next few days if they will play in Puerto Rico this month.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday that the announcement on whether the two-game series will be moved because of concerns about the Zika virus will be made Friday or Monday “at the latest.”
The teams are scheduled to play May 30-31 in San Juan to celebrate Roberto Clemente Day, a league-wide tribute honoring the late Pirates Hall of Famer and Puerto Rico native. But with players on both sides expressing concern about Zika, the games might be moved to Miami since the Marlins are the designated home team.
“We are in the process of still having discussions with a variety of interested parties, mostly outside the game … before we make a final decision and announcement,” Manfred said in Chicago before Thursday’s game between the White Sox and Boston Red Sox.
U.S. health officials say Puerto Rico is the front lines of the nation’s battle with Zika.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said Zika can cause a birth defect called microcephaly, where infants are born with unusually small heads. The virus is most often spread by mosquito bites, but it also can be spread through sexual intercourse.
Rounding the bases
Josh Hamilton’s return to the Texas Rangers is undetermined at the moment. He will not resume his rehab assignment Saturday, the first day eligible since his stint with Double-A Frisco was interrupted after one game. Hamilton is working out at the Texas Metroplex Institute in Arlington. Pain and weakness in his left knee has plagued him since last season. He had surgeries in October and February and has been on the disabled list the entire season. …Oakland Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt will need reconstructive surgery on his injured pitching elbow. Bassitt was examined in Cincinnati by Dr. Timothy Kremchek who determined Bassitt needs ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow. The surgery is scheduled for Friday. …The Chicago White Sox designated left-hander John Danks for assignment and recalled right-hander Erik Johnson from Triple-A Charlotte in time for Thursday’s start against Boston. They also placed reliever Jake Petricka on the 15-day disabled list with a right-hip impingement and recalled pitcher Tommy Kahnle from Charlotte. General manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday the White Sox were letting Danks go after 10 years. The 31-year-old went 7-15 with a 4.71 ERA in 30 starts last season, and got hit hard while dropping his first four outings this year. …Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez will have surgery on his right thumb on Friday. Perez was injured tagging a runner at the plate Saturday against Philadelphia. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day when X-rays revealed a fracture. After surgery, a timetable on Perez’s return will be announced.