Photo: Getty Images North America
Six players for the New York Yankees have tested positive for COVID-19, including power hitter Aaron Judge.
The positive tests forced the postponement of Thursday night's game versus the Boston Red Sox, which would have opened Major League Baseball's second half.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman told reporters Thursday afternoon that there were three positive tests among players and three more test results pending. Those pending tests turned out to be positives.
The players that tested positive include Judge, third baseman Gio Urshela, catcher Kyle Higashioka and pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta.
It marks the second time this season that there have been breakthrough cases among vaccinated individuals in the Yankees organization. Earlier this season, eight coaches and travel staff tested positive for the virus, all of whom were vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Only one person in that group, third base coach Phil Nevin, suffered severe symptoms.
As of Friday morning, the Red Sox had not reported any positive tests.
It was still unclear when the postponed game will be rescheduled or whether the two teams will play Friday.
The J&J one-shot vaccine is believed to be 72 percent effective against moderate COVID-19 and 85 percent effective against severe COVID-19. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were found to be around 90 percent effective at preventing infections following full vaccination, per the CDC.