The Major League Baseball team on Thursday rejected the accusation of Boston Red Sox champion Hunter Renfroe that the league told the team to stop testing COVID-19 amid the outbreak that was spreading through the home of the team.
“MLB basically told us to stop testing and treat the symptoms,” Renfroe said Thursday before WEEI’s “Merloni and Fauria” show. “And we said, ‘No, we’ll find out what’s going on and keep trying to keep this thing under control.’
Host Lou Merloni followed up and asked if MLB had asked the Red Sox to stop testing.
“Yes,” Renfroe said.
“And to try to play, move on and not worry?” Merloni asked.
“Yes,” Renfroe said.
Renfroe “is completely wrong and inaccurate,” a league spokesman told The Boston Globe.
The Red Sox also refuted Renfroe’s comments.
“We’ve been following MLB’s COVID-19 protocols all season,” the team said in a statement. “We have closely consulted with them everything we have done and continue to do tests and their medical staff has been very supportive.”
As of Thursday, nine people on the team have tested positive for the virus, with another 11 out of action due to symptoms or close contact with positive cases. Seated players include Xander Bogaerts, Enrique Hernandez, Christian Arroyo, Matt Barnes and Nick Pivetta.
The Red Sox are below the 85% vaccination threshold at their club, although some of the players who tested positive are vaccinated.