Andrew Benintendi, Whit Merrifield amongst 10 unvaccinated Kansas Metropolis Royals gamers out for Toronto Blue Jays sequence

Ten Kansas City Royals gamers, together with 4 of their high hitters and two of their greatest beginning pitchers this season, is not going to journey to Toronto this week for the four-game sequence with the Blue Jays as a result of they haven’t obtained the COVID-19 vaccination.

The vaccine requirement for border crossing into Canada will have an effect on outfielder Andrew Benintendi, super-utilityman Whit Merrifield, catcher MJ Melendez, first baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier, right-hander Brad Keller, right-hander Brady Singer, middle fielder Michael A. Taylor, outfielder Kyle Isbel, reliever Dylan Coleman and catcher Cam Gallagher.

“On the finish of the day, it is their alternative,” Royals president of baseball operations Dayton Moore informed reporters Wednesday. “It is what they determine to do. And we have at all times been a corporation that promotes and encourages particular person decisions. Sadly, a few of this impacts the staff. We’re disenchanted in a few of that, however we notice it is a part of the sport and a part of the world we dwell in. We’re simply actually wanting ahead to offering these gamers a possibility who’re getting an opportunity to play in Toronto.”

Gamers who’re unvaccinated and do not make the journey to Toronto are positioned on the restricted listing and forfeit service time and wage for the 4 video games missed.

“It is a person alternative,” supervisor Mike Matheny mentioned. “The group’s performed an actual good job bringing in professionals and specialists to speak guys via robust conversations after which put it of their palms to make the selections they consider is greatest for them and their households.”

Previous to Kansas Metropolis, essentially the most gamers a staff had missed in Toronto was 4, and 25 whole gamers had hit the restricted listing resulting from being unvaccinated.

“Proper or fallacious, I did not do it on a whim,” Merrifield mentioned. “It has been an extended thought course of, as a result of I perceive what Canada has in place proper now. That is the one motive I’d take into consideration getting it at this level, is to go to Canada. Which may change down the highway. If one thing occurs and I occur to get on a staff that has an opportunity to go play in Canada within the postseason, perhaps that adjustments. However as we sit right here proper now, I am snug with my resolution, my teammates help me, help the remainder of the blokes in right here who’ve made that call, and that is that.”

Benintendi is the one 2022 All-Star within the group. The Royals, with a 35-53 document after beating Detroit on Wednesday afternoon, have explored buying and selling the 28-year-old, who’s batting .317 and resulting from hit free company this winter.

“For me, it was a private resolution,” Benintendi mentioned. “And I will go away it at that.”

Melendez, a rookie, batted leadoff the previous two days as Merrifield, whose 553-game Iron Man streak got here to an finish due to a toe harm, sat out. Dozier has recurrently served because the Royals’ cleanup hitter. The one vaccinated outfielder on the Royals’ lively roster is Edward Olivares.

Kansas Metropolis will summon reinforcements from its Triple-A and Double-A associates to fill out the large league roster. The Royals’ sequence at Toronto begins Thursday.

“Now what it presents is a chance for some younger guys to step in who would not usually be right here,” Matheny mentioned. “It would have an effect on what we’re doing rotation-wise and that will likely be one other query that we’ll must reply later. I am enthusiastic about some guys coming in and getting an opportunity.”

Blue Jays interim supervisor John Schneider mentioned his staff will not take Kansas Metropolis flippantly.

“A little bit bit shocking, however the guidelines are the foundations. We dwell by them and the remainder of the league lives by them,” Schneider mentioned in Toronto. “Undoubtedly not a sequence you are going to take flippantly going into the break. You type of see who they’ve, you recreation plan accordingly, and hopefully construct off this two-game sequence [sweep] towards the Phillies.”

Data from The Related Press was used on this report.