Adam Ottavino annoyed by Red Sox teammates for not taking COVID-19 seriously

The Boston Red Sox are one of just a few teams below the 85 percent COVID-19 vaccination threshold. Reliever Adam Ottavino isn’t thrilled with that fact.

Ottavino was vocal about his opposition to several players on the roster who have yet to get vaccinated. While “personal decisions” are all fun and good, when it impacts others and, eventually, the Red Sox’s playoff survival, not getting vaccinated crosses a line.

“We had a player that was taken out of our team and he didn’t have COVID; it was just because he was deemed a close contact and unvaccinated,” Ottavino told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. “I got pretty annoyed with that fact — not necessarily individually to the point of having a problem with anybody.”

Boston Red Sox still dealing with after-effects of COVID-19 protocol

News broke on Friday that Chris Sale wasn’t vaccinated, putting himself and teammates in danger. Sale is returning from the COVID-19 list after an untimely absence.

Boston’s rotation isn’t the same without Sale in it, and their playoff chances may rely solely on him, as he’d be the logical choice to start the Wild Card game. However, down the stretch, he’s proven it’s tough to rely on him.

Ottavino, while not commenting on Sale directly, seems to be frustrated with the lack of logical thinking in this matter.

“I love all my teammates. But I just felt like that’s a certain part of the protocol that, like, maybe guys didn’t take seriously enough in their decision-making process [about whether to vaccinate],” Ottavino added. “I just didn’t even want to be around anybody. I was going in the weight room by myself and watching the game. The first game, I didn’t go out to the bullpen until the eighth inning. I was like, ‘Why do I want to hang out with anybody?’”

Ottavino himself hasn’t tested positive, but four of his fellow relievers have. His concern is valid given the close contact between himself and other members of the Boston team and coaching staff on a daily basis.

To find COVID-19 vaccination sites near you, head to the CDC’s website at this link.

As baseball fans, we all remember our firsts. Whether it’s the first game we attended, the first jersey we purchased or our team’s first World Series win. This summer, Woodbridge Wines, FanSided and some of your favorite baseball stars want to help you celebrate your baseball fan firsts. Check out this video from Adam Jones talking about his own baseball first and then share your own stories by visiting https://woodbridgevideocontest.dja.com/index for your chance to meet Adam Jones himself!”
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., 21 or older. Starts 10:00 AM (ET) on August 2, 2021 and ends 11:59 PM (ET) on September 30, 2021. The Woodbridge Video Contest is sponsored by Constellation Brands, Inc. No alcohol awarded with prizes. Void where prohibited. For complete details, see Official Rules at WoodbridgeVideoContest.dja.com. Please enjoy our wines responsibly. © 2021 Woodbridge Winery, Acampo, CA