Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli will miss some time. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli tests positive for COVID-19

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/5/22

Two weeks ago, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora tested positive for COVID-19. Cora has since returned to his club, but now another American League manager is forced to leave his club after contracting the virus.

Rocco Baldelli has tested positive for COVID-19, Twins say. Jayce Tingler will serve as the team’s acting manager in his absence.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) May 5, 2022

Baldelli was one of the early stars of the Tampa Bay Rays in the early 2000s, joining the organization as the sixth overall pick in the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. The Rhode Island native made his big league debut in 2003 and finished that season third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting behind a campaign in which he produced career highs in games played (156), at-bats (637), hits (184), runs scored (89), RBI (78), doubles (32) and stolen bases (27).

Now 40, Baldelli's playing career was cut short due to various injuries and medical issues after just 519 games played between 2003 and 2010. He joined the Twins ahead of the 2019 season as their manager and has posted a 225-184 record at the helm.

Baldelli earned the AL Manager of the Year Award in 2019 after the team went 101-61 and captured the AL Central Division title. The Twins are currently leading the division this season with a 15-10 mark.

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