Yardbarker
x
20 clubs at 85% vaccination threshold for relaxed protocols
A stack of baseballs sit on the field during the Baltimore Orioles spring training workout  Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

20 MLB clubs now at 85% vaccination threshold for relaxed COVID-19 protocols

MLB and the MLB Players Association continue to offer positive news regarding the number of new COVID-19 cases and coronavirus vaccinations among players and staff members. 

On Friday, MLB and the MLBPA announced that only one new MLB player and one Triple-A player tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week. To compare, one MLB player, a Triple-A player, and a staff member recorded positive results in the previous round of testing. 

MLB also confirmed that 20 clubs have now reached the 85% COVID-19 vaccination threshold among Tier 1 employees that include players, managers, coaches, trainers and other essential members of traveling parties. Sixteen teams had hit the 85% threshold that allows for the loosening of coronavirus-related health and safety protocols last Friday. 

Additionally, 85.2% of all Tier 1 individuals are currently considered either partially or fully vaccinated, up from 84.5% the prior week. 82.9% of those employees are fully vaccinated, an increase from 81.2%. 

On Thursday, the Chicago White Sox placed rookie outfielder Andrew Vaughn on the COVID-19 injured list, but general manager Rick Hahn said at the time Vaughn was asymptomatic. 

The NBA has avoided a single positive coronavirus test among players throughout the playoffs over the past two weeks. 

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!