One of the biggest stars set to play in the first Major League Baseball game of the season has tested positive for COVID-19. Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto received the result hours before Thursday night’s first pitch, ruling him out of the defending world champions' game against the New York Yankees.

Soto was tested Tuesday and found out about the positive test Thursday morning, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters. Soto is asymptomatic, according to Rizzo, and will be eligible to return after two negative tests over the span of more than 24 hours. The young outfielder was one of the heroes of the Nationals' World Series triumph last October.

All the other tests from Nationals’ players two days ago have come back negative. The rest of the team remains eligible to play.

"I think you have to take a business-as-usual type of approach to it, just like any other injury during the season," Rizzo told reporters.

MLB players have been tested every other day since reporting to training camp earlier this month. The protocol will remain in place throughout the entire season.

The league and players’ union announced Friday that five new players tested positive for COVID-19 over the previous week.

Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman will miss the opener as he continues to test positive for the coronavirus. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu is on New York’s Opening Day roster, having recovered from COVID-19.

The Nationals and Yankees will play in an empty stadium. The league has agreed to start the season without fans during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day at Nationals Park.

Juan Soto Washington Nationals
Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals throws the ball during the fifth inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park on July 21, 2020 in Washington, DC. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
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