Nevin among three Yankees positive COVID tests in 'breakthrough' cases

The New York Yankees announced on Tuesday that third-base coach Phil Nevin, first-base coach Reggie Willits and a support staffer had all tested positive to COVID-19.

The "breakthrough" cases forced the trio, along with pitching coach Matt Blake, to be absent for Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Nevin's diagnosis was confirmed pre-game and comes after San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr tested positive too.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said: "Playing through a pandemic, going back to last year, I guess nothing surprises you.

"But it does catch you off guard a little bit when you get that news. It definitely hits you, especially as we move through these vaccination phases."

Nevin had been fully vaccinated, hence the term "breakthrough" case. He has been placed in quarantine protocol, with further testing and contact tracing being performed.

The Yankees players and coaches had received the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine in early April.

"Hopefully the fact that we’re vaccinated en masse is something that will blunt this," Boone said.

Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, who did not play on Tuesday, added: "I think as a whole, we're looking to press on. There are different levels of comfortability across the club.

"I don't think this is going to be over for a few years. I think we're going to have to be dealing with this kind of thing for a while."