Vaccinated Nationals pitcher Erick Fedde tests positive for COVID-19

May 20 (UPI) -- Washington Nationals pitcher Erick Fedde, who had been vaccinated for COVID-19, has tested positive for the virus, and a teammate was placed into quarantine before their game against the Chicago Cubs, manager Dave Martinez said.

Martinez announced the positive test result when he spoke to reporters before the Nationals beat the Cubs on Wednesday in Chicago. The player placed in quarantine, who isn't vaccinated, was deemed to be a close contact of Fedde, who is asymptomatic.

"I think the most important thing that we need to know is that these vaccinations are to help you not get as sick or sick," Martinez told reporters.

"Like I said, this player feels fine. And for me, that's good news. We've got to follow MLB protocols. Hopefully, he goes through these protocols, he comes back and he's fully healthy and ready to go."

The positive test came from Monday's round of testing, and the Nationals learned the results Wednesday. Martinez did not disclose the names of the two players, but Fedde and fellow pitcher Tanner Rainey were placed on the injured list without an injury designation.

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer told reporters that Fedde was the player who tested positive in his postgame news conference. The Nationals ace said he thinks vaccinated players who test positive and are asymptomatic should be allowed to play.

"I talked to Fedde, he's our positive," Scherzer said. "He is frustrated. At the end of the day, he is vaccinated and asymptomatic.

"We've got to update the rules here. We got to start following the science, listening to what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, whether this is union or MLB, the people above us. We've got to update the protocols here."

Individuals deemed to be in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 are subject to a mandatory quarantine of seven days and must test negative on the fifth day or later before they return, according to MLB COVID-19 protocol.

Last week, the Yankees had nine people test positive for COVID-19, including shortstop Gleyber Torres as well as coaches and staff members. MLB's latest round of COVID-19 test results, released May 14, included 10 total positives out of 10,629 tests.

As of last week, nearly 84% of MLB's Tier 1 individuals, which includes players and staff members, were partially or fully vaccinated for COVID-19.