New York Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin lost 22 pounds and was diagnosed with a bacterial infection in his bloodstream while away from the team after testing positive for COVID-19.
"It was a little bit of a grind, but people have been through worse, I know," Nevin said Friday. "Lost 22 pounds in the process and (I'm) trying to get that stuff back, but it's really good to be back and around the guys. That, to me, was the hardest part."
Nevin, who is asthmatic, received a COVID-19 vaccination and said doctors told him it prevented the virus from getting into his lungs, according to James Wagner of The New York Times.
He added that he's "never been a doctor guy" but has encouraged others to get vaccinated and examined, Wagner notes.
In addition to being away from the Yankees, Nevin also missed the MLB debut of his son, Tyler Nevin, who plays for the Baltimore Orioles.
Phil Nevin gets emotional talking about not being able to see his son, Tyler Nevin, make his MLB debut in person:
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 4, 2021
"We had talked about that day for a long time. To not be there for that probably hurt the most" pic.twitter.com/vPkzj8YuGA
"We had talked about that day for a long time," he said. "To not be there for that probably hurt the most."
The former 12-year MLB veteran said a provision in his contract with the Yankees would have allowed him to be away from the club to see Tyler's debut in person. The younger Nevin went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk against the Chicago White Sox on May 29.
Nevin, who is still undergoing treatments, will return to the Yankees' dugout for Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox and is expected to be back on the field soon, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
