J.T. Realmuto won’t be in uniform for either of the Phillies’ games in Toronto this week, joining Alec Bohm, Aaron Nola and Kyle Gibson in refusing to comply with Canada’s mandate requiring international travelers be vaccinated for COVID-19. The four holdouts have been subject to intense public scrutiny, with many fans characterizing their decision as “selfish.”
Beyond the optics of leaving his teammates high and dry, abandoning them for an important series as the Phillies vie for position in a tight NL Wild Card race, Realmuto’s absence will also take a chunk out of his wallet with the All-Star catcher forfeiting a reported $262,000 in salary. That’s quite alright with Realmuto, who isn’t sweating the lost wages, unwilling to cave to Canada’s demands while taking a principled stance against the vaccine.
“I’m a healthy, 31-year-old professional athlete,” Realmuto told beat writer Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I'm not going to let Canada tell me what I do and don't put in my body."
Plenty of athletes have been hesitant to get the vaccine including Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic, reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving and PGA Tour defector Bryson DeChambeau, who missed last summer’s Tokyo Olympics due to COVID. Trevor Story had also been on that side of the fence—his deal with the Red Sox this offseason was contingent on him getting the shot—but eventually relented. Andrew Wiggins needed similar prodding, a decision that paid off handsomely when the former first overall pick enjoyed a breakout season, leading the Warriors to their fourth title in eight years.
According to a study conducted by the CDC, unvaccinated patients are 14 times more likely to die of COVID. They’re also more likely to spread it, potentially infecting those with compromised immune systems who wouldn’t be able to fight the virus as effectively as a seemingly healthy, 31-year-old athlete. Celtics forward Jayson Tatum needed an inhaler for months after his initial COVID diagnosis while former Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, now of the Detroit Tigers, experienced myocarditis, a serious heart condition, after his illness.
Canada’s restrictive mandates have been an obstacle for teams including the 76ers, who were without one of their top defenders Matisse Thybulle for much of their first-round series with Toronto. During their recent trip to Rogers Centre, the Red Sox blew a ninth-inning lead to the Blue Jays, which could have been avoided had closer Tanner Houck been available. Seeing the mess it caused, Houck’s teammate, Jarren Duran, vowed to get vaccinated before the Red Sox return to Toronto in September.
With Realmuto ineligible, look for Garrett Stubbs to be behind the plate when the Blue Jays host the Phillies Tuesday at 7:07 PM ET.
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