MLB says 14 teams have reached 85 percent vaccine threshold for relaxed protocols

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 5/21/21

Fourteen of Major League Baseball's 30 teams have at least 85% of their players and other on-field personnel completely vaccinated, according to The Associated Press (h/t Sportsnet).

Those teams are allowed to relax COVID-19 protocols, including dropping facemask requirements in dugouts and bullpens and loosening restrictions during road trips.

MLB said 84.4% of all Tier 1 individuals such as players, managers, coaches, trainers and support personnel had been partially or fully vaccinated, according to The Associated Press. The league also said almost 79% had been fully vaccinated.

This news comes as ESPN's Jeff Passan reports the Seattle Mariners have at least one positive COVID-19 test, and there is "concern" within the organization that the low level of vaccination within the clubhouse could be "problematic."

Passan adds that the Mariners are among the least-vaccinated teams in MLB.

The news also comes after Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer and New York Mets President Sandy Alderson expressed frustration about the pace of vaccinations for their teams.

The Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees are among the teams that are known to have reached the 85% vaccine threshold for relaxed protocols.

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