Star Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman became the biggest name in Major League Baseball to test positive for coronavirus so far this month, the team revealed on Saturday.
Freeman, who fell ill on Thursday and underwent testing for COVID-19 that night, received a positive result and was immediately put into the league’s quarantine protocol for all players who test positive.
The four-time All-Star and 2019 Silver Slugger Award winner has been dealing with body aches, headaches, chills, and a high fever ever since falling ill according to his wife, Chelsea.
Braves manager Brian Snitker revealed that Freeman, along with pitchers Touki Toussaint and Will Smith as well as infielder Pete Kozma, has tested positive for the virus.
Snitker said that “It will be a while before (the Braves) get Freeman back,” as he must test negative at least twice before returning to action.
With the season set to kick off in late July, it remains unclear at this point if Atlanta will be able to count on Freeman’s presence in its lineup in the first portion of the season.
At this time, fans around baseball are simply hoping that Freeman recovers from the illness quickly and that it won’t be too long until he is able to return to the field.
