The Pirates announced on Thursday morning that team President Travis Williams has tested positive for COVID-19.
Williams said in a statement that he began feeling symptoms on Monday evening.
"Fortunately, however, I followed the critical health and safety protocols that we put in place, including wearing a mask as required, maintaining safe social distance and upon the onset of symptoms, immediately isolating myself and getting tested which has prevented further impact to others," Williams said.
Williams added that the club has conducted a thorough contact tracing procedure to identify anyone he may have been in contact with. The list of people did not include any Pirates players, coaches or members of the team's baseball operations support staff due to them being on the road in Cincinnati.
At this time, there are no additional positive tests within the Pirates organization.
“I am on the road to recovery. In the meantime, I wanted to use my diagnosis as another reminder that we are all susceptible,” Williams said. “It is critical we all follow CDC guidelines and state mandates, and have a heightened sense of self awareness in order to protect each other. We all must do our part to get through this pandemic together.”
Williams is the first member of the organization to test positive for the virus since Gregory Polanco in mid-July. Four other players tested positive for the virus in summer camp -- Ke'Bryan Hayes, Blake Cederlind, Socrates Brito and Keone Kela -- and all have since returned to the playing field. The Pirates also had a scout in Venezuala hospitalized due to COVID-19 in June.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton weighed in on the situation this afternoon, expressing both his concern for Williams and pride for how well the organization as a whole has done at handling all pandemic related issues proactively.
“Well, I think as we’ve talked about numerous times, you have to follow protocols," Shelton said. "Obviously, Travis did an unbelievable job self-identifying the fact that he felt something or had symptoms and reported it. We’ve been on the road so I haven’t been around him. Have had the opportunity to text with him and talk to him and make sure that he’s all right. That’s why the protocols are in place. Like we’ve talked about numerous times, no one can tell you how they contracted this or where they get it. You can follow all the protocols and people still end up positive.
I’m very happy that, No. 1, he’s my boss but, No. 2, that just like Polanco earlier in the year, he reported it himself. Travis reported himself. It shows that if you do the right things that we can stay ahead of this. I think it’s a credit to him, to the organization, for us making sure we stay ahead of this.”
To continue reading, log into your account:
