MLB on Renfroe's COVID claims: 'Completely wrong and inaccurate'

Boston Red Sox right fielder Hunter Renfroe Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

MLB on Hunter Renfroe's COVID testing claims: 'Completely wrong and inaccurate'

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/10/21

Major League Baseball denied Boston Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe's allegation that the league told the club to stop testing amid a COVID-19 outbreak spreading through its clubhouse.

"MLB basically told us to stop the testing and just treat the symptoms," Renfroe said Thursday on WEEI's "Merloni and Fauria" show (h/t ESPN's Joon Lee). "And we were like, 'No, we're going to figure out what's going on and keep trying to keep this thing under control.'"

Host Lou Merloni followed up, asking whether MLB asked the Red Sox to stop testing. Renfroe simply replied, "Yes."

An MLB spokesperson said in a statement to the Boston Globe that Renfroe's allegations are "completely wrong and inaccurate."

MLB spokesperson on Hunter Renfroe’s comments to WEEI saying that MLB encouraged the Red Sox to stop testing following their outbreak:

“He (Renfroe) is completely wrong and inaccurate.”
— Julian McWilliams (@byJulianMack) September 9, 2021

The Red Sox later refuted Renfroe's comments:

"We have been following MLB's COVID-19 protocols all season long," the team said in a statement. "We have consulted closely with them on everything we've done and continue to test and their medical staff has been very supportive."

The Red Sox at one point had 11 people sidelined due to COVID-19. Xander Bogaerts, Enrique Hernandez, Christian Arroyo, Matt Barnes, Nick Pivetta and Jarren Duran were among the players on the shelf.

Boston is under the 85% vaccination threshold and isn't eligible for relaxed protocols. However, some players who tested positive are vaccinated.

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