Freeman among 4 Braves players to test positive for coronavirus

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was one of four players on his team to test positive for the coronavirus, manager Brian Snitker revealed, according to Dave O'Brien of The Athletic.

Freeman has a fever and Snitker said it's "going to be a while" before the team is able to get him to camp.

The All-Star's wife updated her husband's health on Saturday afternoon.

"He has had body aches, headaches, chills, and a high fever since Thursday," Chelsea Freeman's Instagram post read. "He is someone who literally never gets sick and this virus hit him like a ton of bricks.

"We've been really strict for the last four months. Haven't gone to a grocery store, haven't gone out to dinner once, haven't seen our friends and only allowed family at our house and we still got it. So far, Charlie, Carol, and I are OK. We appreciate all the messages and prayers, please keep them coming for healing and protection for the rest of our family. Please take this virus seriously, wear a mask when in public, and wash your hands frequently."

Will Smith, Touki Toussaint, and Pete Kozma were the other three players to test positive in the MLB's first round of testing. Kozma is dealing with symptoms, while Smith and Toussaint are asymptomatic.

While MLB implemented a policy that teams could not announce the identities of players who test positive or are placed on the COVID-19-related IL, the four Braves players gave permission to be named, O'Brien notes.

"They have to sign off on us bringing their names out," Snitker said. "For me, I think it's good for society and the industry to know this is a real deal. This virus is real. It's nothing to mess with."

Freeman, 30, tested negative earlier in the week but developed symptoms and subsequently tested positive on a follow-up.

Freeman has been a linchpin for the Braves' offense for years and is coming off two of his most productive and durable campaigns. Since the beginning of 2018, he's hit .302/.388/.527 with 61 home runs, 78 doubles, and 219 RBIs in 320 games played. It is unclear how much time he will miss.

In addition to players testing positive, first base coach Eric Young Sr. has elected to sit out the shortened campaign because he is considered to be at a high risk for contracting the virus. DeMarlo Hale will take his place.