Danny Santana is the latest Red Sox player to land on the COVID IL. Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox place Danny Santana on COVID-19 IL as outbreak continues to worsen

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/5/21

The Boston Red Sox COVID-19 outbreak continues to worsen, but the team is continuing to play games.

Shortly after announcing that right-hander Nick Pivetta had been placed on the COVID-19-related injured list, the Red Sox announced that infielder Danny Santana has also been placed on the list.

The #RedSox today placed INF/OF Danny Santana on the COVID-19 Related Injured List.

To fill Santana’s spot on the active roster, the Red Sox recalled OF Franchy Cordero from Triple-A Worcester.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 5, 2021

The Red Sox now have 11 players on the COVID-19-related IL, including Pivetta, Xander Bogaerts, Enrique Hernandez, Christian Arroyo, Yairo Munoz, Matt Barnes, Hirokazu Sawamura, Martin Perez, Jarren Duran and Josh Taylor.

Boston's COVID-19 outbreak comes at an unfortunate time as the team continues to battle for a playoff spot in the tight American League. Entering Sunday's game against Cleveland, the Red Sox are third in the American League East with a 79-59 record, eight games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays Rays. They own the second AL wild-card spot, four games ahead of the Oakland Athletics.

In addition to the players, quality control coach Ramon Vazquez has tested positive for the virus and first-base coach Tom Goodwin is in quarantine as a close contact.

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