Source: Sponichi
Hanshin Tigers pitcher Shintaro Fujinami underwent a PCR test for COVID-19 at an Osaka hospital on March 26, and it came back positive. He is the first NPB player to be diagnosed. In the days prior to his test, he complained of having lost his sense of smell, and went to several hospitals in Hyogo Prefecture on the 24th and 25th. Two other players, Hayata Itoh and Kenya Nagasaka, with whom he ate a meal on March 14, complained of having lost their sense of taste, and their tests also came back positive. Their identities will be revealed later today, one report says.
After claiming he could not smell his wine and coffee (presumably at different times of day), Fujinami went to two ear, nose and throat clinics on the 24th, and when his condition did not improve on the 25th, he went to a different hospital. The team doctor recommended he undergo a PCR test, which he did on the 26th, and late that night the results came back positive.
Aside from problems smelling, Fujinami displayed no symptoms like coughing, fever, or fatigue. He practiced with the team until the 25th, and even drove to the hospital by himself, said team chairman Osamu Tanimoto. He is not expected to be hospitalized, and will simply stay home for the time being. According to Sports Hochi, Fujinami and Hayata are expected to be hospitalized, and Nagasaka is already in the hospital.
After the team tracked back on Fujinami’s previous two weeks, it was discovered that one player he ate dinner with on the 14th claimed he could not taste his food on the 25th in the evening, and on the 26th in the morning another reported the same problem. Both underwent PCR tests and both came back positive.
Upon finding out that these players were being tested, the team reacted immediately, shutting down their practice game against the SoftBank Hawks that was scheduled for the afternoon of the 26th. They have also shut down team facilities and ordered all players and staff to stay home for at least the next week.
Tanimoto has said that this past day has been quite frantic, and yet the team does not want to create extra problems for other clubs or the community. They want to behave responsibly and make sure that people are fully aware of this new symptom that was previously not common knowledge in Japan.
Regardless of the results of Fujinami’s test, the team had plans for all players to remain inactive (or stay home at least) until April 1. The league will have an emergency meeting on the 27th to discuss how this affects the plans to start the season on April 24.
Meanwhile, the response on Twitter has been what one might expect in this situation. However, it has come from outside of the team, and even outside of baseball. Case in point: SoftBank Hawks pitcher Rick van den Hurk tweeted in Japanese (presumably using some translation software?), saying: “I’m praying for Fujinami and his teammates. I hope he fully recovers. Health is the most important thing. Number one!”
Comedian Anthony Horita (from the duo Matenro), who is a well-known Hanshin Tigers fan, chimed in as well: “Fujinami – I have been watching you since you were in high school. You will overcome this, too! That’s all I can say, but I’m pulling for you!”
We at H-TEN are also in Fujinami’s corner, wishing him a full and quick recovery. Same goes to Hayata and Nagasaka, as well as everyone in NPB, for that matter. Stay safe, baseball. Stay safe, Japan. Stay safe, everyone. Stay home!