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Jeter addresses outbreak: Marlins 'got relaxed and they let their guard down'

Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After a COVID-19 outbreak saw 21 people within the Miami Marlins organization test positive and forced the team to shut down its schedule dating back to July 26, Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said there was no unruly behavior that led to the outbreak.

Instead, it was a matter of complacency.

"There was no hangout at bars," Jeter said, according to Manny Navarro of The Athletic. "No clubs, no running around the town. What it boiled down to was guys were around each other, they got relaxed, and they let their guard down.

"They were getting together in groups, they weren't wearing masks as much as they should have."

The 2020 season was barely underway before the Marlins' outbreak forced considerable changes to the schedule. They won two of three games in their opening series against the Philadelphia Phillies before being forced to halt their campaign.

Jeter also rebuked the notion that Marlins players unilaterally decided to play the final game of that series, saying both MLB and the Phillies knew of the positive tests.

Philadelphia also hasn't played in over a week following the outbreak, but both teams are returning to action this week after neither reported any additional positive tests Monday. The Phillies will open a series against the New York Yankees on Monday night and the Marlins will play the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

Jeter said the Marlins will be more vigilant going forward because another outbreak could spell disaster for an already abbreviated season.

"The bottom line (is) we've been given an opportunity to hit the reset button. And, moving forward, we just cannot make any mistakes from here," Jeter said, according to Navarro.

If all goes well, the Marlins will travel from Baltimore to New York for a three-game weekend series against the Mets.

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