Half Of The Phillies Roster Is Reportedly Unvaccinated

PHILADELPHIA, PA — It will take everything this Phillies team has to make a successful run into the playoffs this fall. And it turns out that one of the greatest barriers standing in the way may, in fact, be themselves.

Recent media reports, including in The Philadelphia Inquirer, indicate that about half of the Phillies roster has opted to not receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

Already, the team has lost several players due to a positive COVID test, including third baseman Alec Bohm, who remains away from the team, and starting pitcher Aaron Nola, who returned Monday.

Tuesday, the team announced two more additions to that list: pitchers Bailey Falter and J.D. Hammer.

The problem is compounded by the fact that earlier in the month, MLB reported that the Phillies are one of seven teams that has not reached the 85 percent vaccination threshold. That means that restrictions for exposure to the virus — such as an individual showing up in contact tracing — are more severe.

When asked if he planned to get vaccinated in the future, Nola demurred.

“It’s a personal choice," he told Jim Salisbury with NBC Philadelphia. "Not right now. I’ll keep it at that.”

That there is some vaccine resistance in the Phillies clubhouse is not new knowledge. Comments have been made throughout the season by other players, dating back to closer Hector Neris saying in April that he didn't want the shot, that foreshadowed future issues. The fact that the Phillies are suffering the consequences of this now, in late July, is all the more frustrating when the vast majority of teams are nearly fully vaccinated, and have not seen any cases in months.

Beyond the few mentioned, it's not clear exactly which players have and have not received the vaccine. However, there are reasons beyond baseball for players to consider getting the shot: shortstop Didi Gregorious is immunocompromised, as he has a chronic kidney disease. He wore a mask in games during the 2020 season.

The Phillies currently sit 2.5 games behind the Mets for first place in the National League East. They return to the field Wednesday night against the Yankees in New York.