Two Royals players out up to two weeks with chickenpox

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera and outfielder Alex Rios will both be out up to two weeks after contracting the chickenpox, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera and outfielder Alex Rios will both be out for one or two weeks after contracting the chickenpox, manager Ned Yost confirmed Tuesday.

Herrera and Rios are the only two players currently infected, Yost added. 

Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star​ reported earlier Tuesday that team officials told him the two players could miss at least two weeks. 

Chickenpox is fairly common in children but is more severe in adults, who may develop complications such as pneumonia. Players from Latin America are more susceptible to infection because immunization rates are lower there than in the United States. 

Herrera and Rios have been quarantined by the team, McCullough reports. 

Herrera was selected to his first career All-Star team this season and has a 2.12 ERA in 59 1/3 innings. Rios, Kansas City’s starting rightfielder, is batting .253 on the season and .271 in the second half.

- Dan Gartland