#Red Sox ace Eduardo Rodriguez has coronavirus

Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston’s best starting pitcher last season, has tested positive for coronavirus, manager Ron Roenicke told reporters Tuesday.

The 27-year-old left-hander is “feeling a lot better,” according to Roenicke, but is still back home in Miami. He had been around someone who was sick so he did not yet fly to Boston for the start of spring training 2.0.

It remains to be seen how long COVID-19 could keep Rodriguez out for, but it sounds like he is already itching to get back.

“Rodriguez wants to be ready for Opening Day but we’ll have to see how it goes,” Roenicke told reporters, per MassLive. “The medical team will follow him, give him instructions.”

Rodriguez, who went 19-6 last year with a 3.81 ERA, is the latest high-profile player to test positive for coronavirus. Others include DJ LeMahieu, Freddie Freeman, Salvador Perez and Miguel Sano.

While Rodriguez’s wellbeing is a more pressing issue, his potential absence would also be a hit to the Red Sox’s pitching. They are already without Chris Sale, who underwent Tommy John surgery in March, a month after the Red Sox traded away David Price in the Mookie Betts blockbuster. Price recently announced he would be sitting out this season with the Dodgers over concerns about coronavirus.

If Rodriguez is not available for the start of the season, the Red Sox rotation would be left with Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Perez and Ryan Weber, with question marks beyond them.

Roenicke also announced prospect Bobby Dalbec, a third baseman, had tested positive, though he was asymptomatic. Rodriguez and Dalbec joined left-handed relievers Darwinzon Hernandez and Josh Taylor as the known Red Sox who have tested positive.