Nationals' Soto tests positive for virus, out vs. Yankees

That includes testing negative twice before he can be fully cleared. Soto, 21, batted .282 with 34 homers and 110 RBIs in 150 games last season and went on to go deep on three occasions against the Houston Astros in the World Series.

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto tested positive for the coronavirus, general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed Thursday. The team said Soto is asymptomatic and will self-quarantine.

"You have to take a business as usual approach, like any other injury during the season," Rizzo said a few hours before the scheduled first pitch at Nationals Park. Rizzo said through contact tracing, no other players were ineligible for Thursday's game.

Soto was not listed on the Nationals' 30-man roster, which was released earlier on Thursday. It was not immediately known when Soto tested positive for the virus. Players who test positive must clear all health and safety protocols before rejoining their teammates. That includes testing negative twice before he can be fully cleared.

Soto, 21, batted .282 with 34 homers and 110 RBIs in 150 games last season and went on to go deep on three occasions against the Houston Astros in the World Series. He batted .333 in the World Series and had an on-base percentage of .438. Soto is batting .287 with 56 homers and 180 RBIs in 266 career games with the Nationals.