The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JAZZ Chisholm and Lucius Fox both saw playing time this week with their respective clubs during Major League Baseball Summer Camp.

Chisholm cleared COVID-19 protocols and joined the Miami Marlins’ main squad in Tuesday night’s 10-9 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

In a reserve role, the Marlins’ No.3 prospect entered the game at shortstop in the eighth inning and had one plate appearance - a flyout to left in the top of the ninth.

Chisholm missed the opening week of summer camp and was in quarantine after a series of positive and negative COVID-19 tests despite not experiencing any symptoms. “Honestly, I was not worried at all. I didn’t have one symptom at all, so, to me, I didn’t even think I had the virus at all,” he told the Miami Heral.

“It’s mentally tough to go through, but you just have to fight through every day and keep working every day, even though you’re not allowed to leave your room or wherever you’re at. It’s just pushing through it and staying mentally stable through everything you do. ... It was a tough time for me, but I got through it and I’m here now, so I’m excited.”

Following the pair of games in Atlanta, Chisholm will return to the Marlins’ alternate training site at the team’s Player Development Complex in Jupiter, Florida.

The Marlins open the regular season tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Fox participated in the Rays’ pair of intrasquad scrimmages ahead of tonight’s regular season opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

As members of their teams’ respective 40-man rosters, Chisholm and Fox were named to each team’s player pool of up to 60 players that can be used throughout the season.

The 60 players will be invited to training camp and active rosters will include 30 players.

After two weeks the roster will be reduced to 28 and after a period of two weeks, a final cut of 26 players.

The 2020 MLB season will feature a shortened 60-game season played over 66 days. Players reported to training camp on July 1 and opening day will be hosted on July 24.

The regular season is expected to conclude by late September and the playoffs are scheduled to begin in October.

In addition to the shortened season, the MLB will feature several rule changes most notably, the use of the designated hitter in both leagues and beginning extra innings with a runner on second base.

Chisholm, the 22-year-old shortstop, was set to make his 2020 debut in AAA baseball with the Wichita Wind Surge of the Pacific Coast League and the AAA affiliate of the Marlins.

He made nine spring training appearances and hit .308 with three RBI, one home run, scored four runs, with a 1.115 OPS and two stolen bases.

Last season, Chisholm was named the top defensive shortstop in the Double-A Southwest League and his advancement to Double-A baseball produced a Southern League All-Star selection after he led all the league’s shortstops with 21 home runs and 173 total bases.

Fox, 23, has been listed at shortstop for the duration of his career but saw time at centrefield, second and third during Spring Training. He is listed as an infielder/outfielder for the 2020 player pool.

He was also set to make his 2020 debut in AAA baseball with the Durham Bulls of the International League and the AAA affiliate of the Rays.

He spent 15 games last season with the Bulls, but spent the bulk of the year with the Montgomery Biscuits in the Double A Southern League. He went on to lead the Southern League with 39 stolen bases.

Fox is currently listed as the No.24 prospect in the Rays organisation.

He received league-wide recognition and was awarded “Best Hustler” for his base-running ability when the league announced its Postseason Awards.