ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers color analyst CJ Nitkowski has tested positive for COVID-19, the organization announced Thursday afternoon.
The 47-year-old former player has been a part of the Rangers broadcasts since 2017, but neither he nor play-by-play voice Dave Raymond will be on the call for tonight's game against the Houston Astros, following Nitkowski's positive test.
Sideline reporter Emily Jones will also miss tonight's broadcast, as she is getting tested as well.
Raymond, Jones and select other members of the Fox Sports Southwest crew will not be a part of tonight's telecast, as all members of the crew who were in contact with Nitkowski will get tested. All those parties who were in contact with Nitkowski are now self-quarantining.
FOX Sports Southwest will carry the Texas Rangers radio network broadcast as a simulcast Thursday, the Rangers said. Eric Nadel, Matt Hicks and Jared Sandler will call the game.
The Rangers said they expect to resume broadcast production for Friday's game against the Angels.
The Rangers telecast employs several safeguards for their broadcasters, including ample spacing in the broadcast booth of approximately 10-15 feet, and a plexiglass divider to keep members of the broadcast crew separate from one another. They are also instructed to wear their masks whenever they aren't eating.
Upon entry to the stadium each night, Rangers employees and Fox Sports Southwest employees are given temperature checks, as is every member of the media who attends games at Globe Life Field.
Nitkowski is the second Rangers broadcaster to test positive for COVID-19. Radio broadcaster Hicks tested positive in late July, and had to miss games as a result. When Hicks tested positive, fellow radio broadcast Eric Nadel opted out of calling games that weekend, despite testing negative for COVID-19.
The Rangers play in Houston tonight, before heading to Los Angeles for a four-game set with the Angels.