Negative test for Mitchell's dad `a sigh of relief' to Mets

When far of Utah Jazz star Dovan Mitchell tested negative for coronavirus, it was “a sigh of relief” to New York Mets.

Dovan Mitchell Sr. is a fixture in and around Mets’ clubhouse in his job as team’s director of player relations and community outreach. younger Mitchell confirmed Thursday he tested positive for virus after Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert became first NBA player to test positive, with Gobert's result prompting league to suspend season.

elder Mitchell was tested Thursday and it came back negative, Mets anunced Friday night.

“We all were very pleased and happy for Dovan and his family,” general manr Brodie Van Wnen said Saturday on a conference call with reporters from team’s spring training home in Port St. Lucie, Florida. “And I kw re was a sigh of relief to a degree of our players and staff here.”

Van Wnen said or members of staff in Port St. Lucie or baseball operations had been tested.

With spring training adjourned all around majors due to COVID-19 crisis, club met Saturday morning with players who were still in Port St. Lucie and encourd m to focus t on baseball right w but on ir own health, safety and families.

“Obviously, we had a unique situation in that we were awaiting Dovan Mitchell’s test results, so we shared that information and we shared with m or appropriate information as it relates to ir health and safety,” Van Wnen said. “Players had a number of questions with our staff as well as our performance and medical staff, and players are making a variety of different choices. Some are choosing to travel. Ors are still deciding while y’re contemplating variables with ir family and with ir friends, and ors have made decision to at least stand by here and stay at least for near term.”

After learning of Jazz situation Wednesday night, Mets advised Mitchell Sr. t to report to ir spring training facility Thursday morning. After finding out Thursday that Mitchell Jr. tested positive, Mets’ medical staff recommended his far be tested as a precaution.

For most people,

Because of outbreak, Major League Baseball canceled remainder of spring training schedule Thursday and postponed opening day by at least two weeks to sooner than April 9. Ballparks in Florida and Arizona were closed to general public, and MLB has told players y can remain at camp, report to ir team's home city or go to ir own home.

“ plan for each player will vary. What I can say is that we are t having extended simulation games or live BP sessions where pitchers are throwing to hitters today, and as information comes in we will start to schedule nda for days that are coming,” Van Wnen said. “We’re operating right w that this is bigger than baseball. This is t about preparing for competition today as much as it is making sure that players are considering ir own circumstances.”

Some teams pledged to make decisions as a group.

New York Yankees are staying in Tampa, Florida, where many players worked out Saturday with batting practice indoors and fielding drills outside.

Texas Rangers players said y would decide as a team wher to remain at camp in Arizona or perhaps go back to Texas, where ir new stadium is only partly operational — though bullpen, batting cs and weight rooms are close to completion.

As for Mets, y were waiting to gar more information.

“Today we do have players that are here on site that are getting treatment from our training room, players that are working out in weight room, and players that are participating in some baseball activities,” Van Wnen said. “Once we continue to evolve list of players that is going to be staying, n we’ll be building our camp schedules accordingly.

“Right w it’s still premature to kw how many people will be on site here tomorrow.”