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Mets star pitcher Noah Syndergaard has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Newsday‘s Tim Healey. Multiple beat reporters confirmed this report.
Mets manager Luis Rojas initially announced that the right-hander wouldn’t make his second rehab start Sunday due to a “non-baseball related injury.” The manager declined to go any further as far as any details are concerned.
While Rojas did say that Syndergaard is vaccinated, he didn’t say himself that Syndergaard contracted COVID-19. According to the New York Daily News’ Deesha Thosar, there are no close contacts impacted by Syndergaard’s positive test.
Source says Syndergaard tested positive for COVID. So it’s not an “injury,” but it is obviously a situation that prevents him from throwing for a bit. Unclear if he is symptomatic, but no other close contacts, per source.
— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) August 29, 2021
When speaking with the media, Rojas said it’s unclear when Syndergaard will make his next start but would’t say whether the team has considered shutting him down for the rest of the season.
Syndergaard, who turns 29 today, pitched one inning for High-A Brooklyn Wednesday night in his first game-action since being shut down in May. Syndergaard said after that outing he was instructed by his doctors not to throw any sliders for the rest of the season, which means if he pitches again this season, it’ll be all fastballs and changeups.
He’s been recovering from Tommy John surgery in March 2020. He suffered a setback in May and only started throwing in rehab games last week.
