Tommy Pham tests positive for coronavirus

SAN DIEGO -- Padres outfielder Tommy Pham has tested positive for the coronavirus, general manager A.J. Preller announced Friday, as camp officially opened at Petco Park. Pham was the Padres' lone positive test among the team's players and staff, Preller said.

Pham is asymptomatic and is following quarantine guidelines and protocols outlined by the league, Preller added. The announcement means that Pham gave the Padres his permission to divulge the diagnosis.

• MLB, MLBPA reveal first COVID-19 test results

"He began the self-isolation process immediately, and he's asymptomatic," Preller said. "I've been in contact with him every single day and he feels fine. ... As a staff, we've been following all the contact tracing protocols and all the MLB protocols."

One other undisclosed player still has results pending, but the remainder of the group was in camp Friday. Regarding Pham's potential return to the Padres, he would have to test negative twice outside a span of 24 hours while exhibiting no symptoms.

Pham was one of 31 players who tested positive, according to the league and the MLBPA, which released data on Friday. The total number of positive tests, including staff, was 38 out of 3,185 people tested -- or 1.2%.

The Padres acquired Pham in a Dec. 6 trade with the Rays that sent Hunter Renfroe and Xavier Edwards to Tampa Bay. Pham batted .273/.369/.450 last season and is the team’s projected starter in left field.

Pham didn't take any outfield reps during Spring Training while he dealt with lingering effects from a UCL strain. But with three months off, Pham has fully recovered from that ailment. If healthy, the Padres expect Pham to play left field regularly, with sporadic starts as designated hitter.

Yates' arrival delayed

Preller noted that closer Kirby Yates is the only other player who has yet to arrive at Padres camp, as he attends to a family matter. Yates' absence is not related to the coronavirus, Preller said, and he's expected to arrive later this weekend.

Of course, that means Yates likely won't be an active participant until the middle of next week as he goes through screening and testing protocols.

Aside from Yates and Pham, the other 51 Padres listed on the team's initial player pool have arrived and will be active participants in a camp that is split between Petco Park and the University of San Diego.

Preller added that he has not yet had any conversations with players who might elect not to play or opt out.

"Everybody understands health and safety and trying to do the best we can in terms of creating a good environment for our players,” Preller said. “Our players understand there's risks involved. There's risks involved with everything. But every individual I've had the conversations with or [Padres manager] Jayce [Tingler] has, they're excited about coming back and playing baseball. They understand it's a different environment and you've got to be very mindful of following new protocols and doing everything we can."

Worth noting

• When the Blue Jays claimed infielder Breyvic Valera off waivers on Thursday, it lowered the Padres' pool to 53 players, leaving seven open spots. Preller said that he intends to fill those places before the season, but he first wants a look at in-house options.

"Getting them out here on the field, seeing what shape they're in, we'll look to add to the group in the next week or so when we get a chance to evaluate up close and personal," Preller said. "We'll go from there. We had those conversations -- tough conversations with a bunch of players. We probably talked to about 20 players that didn't end up making our 60 group. But understand that that's not a final list. This is a work in progress."

Among the players under contract who could still be added to the player pool are second baseman Brian Dozier and outfielders Juan Lagares and Abraham Almonte.

• The Padres have yet to determine their alternate training site for the players left off the roster during the regular season. Preller noted that the team is deciding between USD and Lake Elsinore, where the Padres' Class A Advanced affiliate is located.

• Preller confirmed that several Padres have fully healed from their lingering Spring Training ailments, including outfielder Taylor Trammell (oblique strain), right-hander Trey Wingenter (shoulder strain) and left-hander José Castillo (ligament tear in hand).