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Astros' Urquidy had to isolate for over a month after positive COVID-19 test

Patrick Smith / Getty Images

Houston Astros right-hander Jose Urquidy has finally returned to the team after a prolonged bout with COVID-19.

Urquidy tested positive for the virus after reporting to summer camp in July, he revealed Friday. Four additional positive tests forced him to quarantine in his Houston apartment for over a month, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. His isolation lasted for so long, he said was unable to throw or work out properly.

"I was totally alone," Urquidy told reporters, according to David Barron of the Houston Chronicle. "I spent almost 35, 40 days all by myself. The only communication I had was on the telephone, and they brought all meals to me at the apartment.

"It was frustrating for me because I wanted to be with my team from the beginning of the season."

While protocols forced him to isolate for a lengthy period, Urquidy said he only experienced symptoms of the virus for one day, according to the Chronicle's Chandler Rome.

Urquidy was only capable of doing pushups and squats, along with a small amount of weight training, during the isolation. That left him with a lot of work after being cleared to report to the Astros' alternate site at Corpus Christi.

"I lost a lot of strength because of the COVID situation, so I started from zero," Urquidy said. "I had to do a lot of stuff to build the strength in my arm to be able to throw the way I want to, so it wasn't a normal rehab for me."

The 25-year-old posted a 3.95 ERA and 3.68 FIP with 40 strikeouts over nine regular-season appearances in 2019 - but it was in Game 4 of last year's World Series where he made his name by throwing five innings of two-hit shutout baseball as a surprise starter.

Urquidy will be officially activated from the injured list Saturday and will make his 2020 debut by starting the second game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels.

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