Vaccine Side Effects Brings New York Yankees Gio Urshela to COVID Injured List

TAMPA, Florida – The third member of the New York Yankees team, Gio Urshela, was placed on the COVID injured list due to the side effects of the vaccination, the team announced on Friday.

Urshela was originally listed at the starting line, hitting eighth, but the Yankees made the change shortly before the start of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Infielder Mike Ford was recalled from the alternative site and activated for the series. Any player placed on the injured COVID list does not count in the 40-man list. The list of injured COVID also does not require a minimum stay.

Staff in uniform and members of the Yankees traveling group were vaccinated Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, both before and after their 4-3 loss in 11 innings to the Baltimore Orioles. Manager Aaron Boone said that “a number of people at our travel party,” including players, received the vaccine against COVID-19.

The Yankees issued a statement indicating that medical staff at Montefiore Medical Center administered all vaccinations.

“The New York Yankees would like to sincerely thank Dr. Philip Ozuah, president of Montefiore Medical Center and the hardworking and dedicated group of medical staff at this Bronx hospital, who were on site at Yankee Stadium tonight to administer COVID vaccinations to players. , coaches, field staff and support staff in the New York Yankees. This process has been perfect and effective and we are grateful that by receiving the vaccine, we can help stop the spread of COVID-19, “the team said in a statement.

The Yankees hope to reach the required 85% of people fully vaccinated to relax some of MLB’s extended health and safety restrictions.

Any team that reaches the 85% threshold with its Level 1 individuals, a group that includes players, coaches and high-level staff, would have some weak protocols, such as the requirement to wear masks in the shelter. Those Level 1 individuals should also not be quarantined after COVID exposure.

The Yankees were one of the few teams that did not publicly express their hesitation in the vaccine, with many players calling it a “personal choice”.