Sources: Daily / Sponichi / Daily
Hanshin outfielder Hayata Itoh, who tested positive for COVID-19 on March 26, was released from hospital on April 5th, becoming the first of the three hospitalized Tigers to be discharged.
He will spend an indefinite period in isolation in his home, and had this to say through the team: “I’ve caused trouble for a lot of people in the baseball world, including first and foremost, the fans, and will put my fullest efforts into doing my job as a professional baseball player.”
Two days later, pitcher Shintaro Fujinami was granted release from the hospital as well. He will also spend an indefinite period in self-isolation in his home.
Fujinami had this to say: “I’ve caused an immeasurable amount of nuisance to the fans, as well as everyone in the baseball world, including my teammates and team. I regret it and apologize for it. I hope to win back the fans’ hearts with my play on the field, and take my dedication to baseball to the next level.”
Fujinami has been taking a beating in the media, as has the club for its inability to “control” him. He was allowed to leave the team dorm a year earlier than the usual rules stipulate, has not listened to coaches’ advice, teammates’ advice, and has landed in other trouble even before the coronavirus situation (which is believed to have been caused by his participation in a dinner party on March 14, which involved more than 12 people). There has even been continued speculation that a trade is in order. I personally believe that if the team has held on and continued to believe in him this long, they need to give him at least this year to prove himself.
A day later, catcher Kenya Nagasaka became the last of the three to leave the hospital. He will also remain in isolation for an indefinite period of time.
Nagasaka’s comment was not so different from the other two players, also expressing remorse while promising to make up for it on the field.
Team chairman Osamu Tanimoto has not set any date for the team to return to practice, however, saying they need to still take precautions. On that note, all players who were living in the team dorms were spoken to individually. They were given the choice to stay in a hotel or return to their hometowns and stay with their parents (most of the guys in the dorm are under age 25) until team workouts resume.
It has now been two weeks since the three Tigers were tested for COVID-19, and nearly a week since shortstop Ryuhei Obata’s test returned negative. Based on the general incubation period of coronavirus, this would seem to indicate that no others have been infected by these players. It could be just a matter of time before plans are made to resume workouts.
However, given that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared a state of emergency in 7 prefectures (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo, Fukuoka), and another (Aichi) has declared one on its own, 9 NPB teams are more-or-less requested to stay at home, until at least May 6.
No further talks have taken place regarding the start of the NPB season, and there have been talks that it will begin no sooner than June.