Dodgers' Roberts says he, Jansen not at increased risk for COVID-19

Many questions surround a potential 2020 MLB season, including whether some team personnel are at greater risk than others when it comes to contracting the coronavirus. But Dave Roberts says he recently got a vote of confidence from his doctors, despite his pre-existing conditions.

"I asked (the doctor) if I were to go back, does that put me in any different (risk) category, and he said absolutely not," the Los Angeles Dodgers manager told Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times on Monday. "He didn't really give me any details, and I didn't really ask."

Roberts was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that develops within the immune system, in 2010. The 47-year-old skipper overcame the diagnosis, joined the San Diego Padres as a coach, and eventually earned the manager's job with the Dodgers prior to the 2016 campaign.

The 47-year-old skipper also offered some insight into whether the team's closer, Kenley Jansen, would be at increased risk. Jansen, 32, underwent an ablation procedure on his heart in 2018 after suffering from atrial fibrillation due to an arrhythmia. The three-time All-Star has been with the Dodgers since 2010, racking up 301 saves over 611 2/3 innings while authoring a 2.35 ERA and 2.26 FIP.

"From everything I've heard, Kenley is not at any higher risk than anyone else," Roberts said. "He's a caged lion right now. He can't get going soon enough."

Jansen's agent, Adam Katz, told DiGiovanna that, to his knowledge, "Kenley is ready to go."

MLB and the MLBPA have yet to finalize the terms of a 2020 season, including the handling of player health and safety. DiGiovanna reports the league has made it the responsibility of team physicians to identify which players and personnel are at higher risk if and when a season gets underway.