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Nationals reinstate Soto after positive COVID-19 test on Opening Day

Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Juan Soto could make his 2020 season debut Tuesday after the Washington Nationals outfielder tested positive for COVID-19 on Opening Day, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN.

Manager Davey Martinez added that the slugger will not be in Tuesday's starting lineup but is available off the bench, adds Zuckerman.

Soto, 21, was a late scratch from the team's Opening Day contest against the New York Yankees and has been sidelined ever since. The young slugger was asymptomatic and believes he had a false positive.

The Nationals resume their season Tuesday with a two-game set against the New York Mets. It will be the first game the team has played since last Thursday after the weekend series against the Miami Marlins was postponed due to a coronavirus outbreak impacting the Florida-based team.

In additional roster moves, right-handed reliever Wander Suero was also activated off of the injured list, while outfielder Andrew Stevenson was optioned to the alternate training site.

Soto hit .282/.401/.548 with 34 homers and 32 doubles as a sophomore last year, finishing ninth in NL MVP voting.

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