Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro returns to pacing the dugout (not his house)

Matt Quatraro wasn’t looking for a break. Didn’t need one less than two weeks into his first job as a big-league manager. But with a positive test for COVID-19 Quatraro had no choice.

He returned to the clubhouse and dugout Monday in Texas and it was time to move forward.

“Not everybody gets a break after five games of their career,” Quatraro said before the Royals opened a three-game road series against the Rangers. “It was a little poorly timed, but I’m happy to be back.”

With Quatraro out, the Royals (3-7) went 2-3 under interim manager Paul Hoover. They dropped the final two games in their season-opening home stand against the Toronto Blue Jays, then opened their first road trip by taking two of three at San Francisco.

Quatraro said he felt no symptoms during his time away from the team. Game days went like this: He’d connect with Hoover, pitching coach Brian Sweeney and general manager J.J. Picollo before first pitch. Then he’d tune in on TV, like a Royals fan.

“And pace around the house, and eat too much probably while I was watching the games,” Quatraro said.

A postgame debriefing with the same group reviewed the game’s events and decisions. Quatraro liked what he saw from his team against the Giants. The Royals overcame deficits of 4-0 and 5-2 to win 6-5 in the second game.

The next day, Kris Bubic gave them their best performance by a starting pitcher this season: six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts–but the Giants rallied late for a 3-1 victory to prevent the sweep.

“As far as watching it, the energy, the effort looked great,” Quatraro said.

The bout with COVID-19 was Quatraro’s second in two seasons. Serving as a bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays last year, Quatraro was one of four coaches who missed time.

“Hopefully I’ve done my share, but I’ve fortunate the way it’s gone for me — very minimal stuff,” Quatraro said.