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Hunter Bishop was one of the first players associated with an MLB team to test positive for the coronavirus (or to at least to go public with it). The San Francisco Giants outfield prospect tested positive shortly before the team convened at Oracle Park for Summer Camp.
Well over a month later, Bishop finally appears ready to join the Giants Alternate Training Site in Sacramento. The first-round pick in 2019 has tested negative for the coronavirus, and has reported to Sacramento. After an official negative test once he’s at the facility, he’ll be cleared to join the player pool and get back to developing.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Amy Gutierrez first reported the good news.
Some good news! After testing negative for Covid, @_HunterBishop_ has reported to SF Giants alternate training site in Sac. Underwent covid testing today. If clear will begin workouts. @sfgiants
— Amy Gutierrez (@AmyGGiants) August 5, 2020
Bishop was drafted with the 10th overall pick a year ago, representing the first draft selection of the new front office. The left-handed hitter slashed .229/.438/.429 in 146 plate appearances across rookie ball and low-A. Fangraphs ranks him as the fourth-best prospect in the Giants organization, behind only Joey Bart, Marco Luciano, and Heliot Ramos.
It will be great for Bishop’s development to be able to get back on the field with the coaches and his fellow players in the player pool. But obviously the fact that he’s seemingly healthy and free of the coronavirus is the real good news here.
The Giants are not releasing any footage from the Alternate Training Site, so we probably won’t get a chance to watch any Bishop highlights until 2021, but it will still be fun to monitor his development.