Pirates' Gregory Polanco on covid-19: 'You have to take care'

As Gregory Polanco prepared for his first start in right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates since testing positive for covid-19, he issued a warning for those wondering what it’s like to have the coronavirus.

“It’s something that, I mean, we’ve taken it seriously, but just a message for the people who are probably not taking it that serious: You have to take this (seriously), because it’s real,” said Polanco, one of five Pirates players to test positive in camp. “You have to take care and be really careful. It’s something where I’m grateful that I’m healthy, not (infecting) other people. So I’m just grateful that I’m here back playing.”

Polanco pulled himself out of training camp when he started to experience symptoms ranging from a sore throat and headache to the chills and fatigue. Polanco said he didn’t have a fever but felt “really, really tired.” The symptoms lasted for four days but kept him from playing baseball for two weeks, missing the season-opening series at St. Louis but returning in time for the home opener Monday at PNC Park.

The Pirates gave Polanco credit for reporting his symptoms to the medical staff and staying away from the team, preventing an outbreak like the Miami Marlins are dealing with that has caused the postponement of their games this season.

“He ended up saving a good amount of people from having to miss time,” Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove said. “Because we all know, the type of guy that he is, he would be here in a heartbeat through any kind of illness of sickness. But he handled that really well, and he definitely saved a lot of our guys from missing time.”

What Polanco couldn’t do is make up for lost time. After slashing .381/.519/.667 with three doubles and a home run in nine spring training games, he had to sit out three-plus months during the shutdown. When he reported to camp, the Pirates raved about how he was hitting. Now, after missing two weeks of training camp, Polanco said the timing on his swing is off. He went 0 for 3 with a walk as desginated hitter against the Brewers on Monday and struck out as a pinch hitter Tuesday.

“That’s the toughest part because my body, I feel good. I feel healthy, but the timing is tough,” Polanco said. “The only way you get better for your timing is by playing, taking at-bats. That’s how you get your timing back. That’s tough, because we don’t have a minor league. We don’t have nothing. It’s just right go into the season, but I’m here and I know it wasn’t going to be easy, so I’m ready for the challenge, and I’m happy that I’m in the lineup and they’re giving me an opportunity to play.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who stayed in daily contact with Polanco, said he watched video of Polanco’s workouts at PNC Park while the Pirates were on the road trip and is monitoring his progress closely. Polanco’s first start in right is just another step in his return. Shelton said the plan was to use Polanco as DH, give him a day off and then play him in right field. Now, it’s a matter of how he recovers.

Having the team’s longest-tenured player and only remaining member of the Pirates’ playoff teams back has been a boost to the clubhouse because of his happy-go-lucky attitude and infectious smile.

“I love having him around,” Shelton said. “He’s happy. He’s in a good mood. He smiles. He’s great in the clubhouse. So having him back makes me smile because every day when he walks in, he smiles.”