A Boston Red Sox player said MLB told the team to stop testing for COVID-19 following a team outbreak
- Boston Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe said that MLB asked the team to stop testing players for COVID-19.
- The news comes after 11 players on the team were placed on the COVID-19 injured list.
- MLB denied Renfroe's accusation and said he is "completely wrong and inaccurate."
Major League Baseball told the Boston Red Sox to quit testing for COVID-19 and only treat coronavirus symptoms, according to Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe.
Renfroe broke the news while speaking on a WEEI radio show about the team's ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The Red Sox placed 11 players on the team's COVID-19 injured list in late August and early September due to positive tests, close contact with a sick person, and more.
"MLB basically told us to stop the testing and just treat the symptoms," Renfroe said. "We're like 'No. We're gonna figure out what's going and keep this thing under control.'"
Mouth agape, WEEI radio host Lou Merloni asked Renfroe to confirm that MLB told the team to stop testing players. Renfroe confirmed it once again, visibly confusing Merloni and his fellow radio host.
MLB vehemently denied Renfroe's accusation, telling Boston Globe reporter Julian McWilliams that Renfroe is "completely wrong and inaccurate." A spokesperson for the Red Sox also issued said in a statement that the team has specifically been following the MLB's protocols and guidance. The statement, however, does not directly dispute Renfroe's claims. MLB did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
"We have been following MLB's COVID-19 protocols all season long," the spokesperson said."We have consulted closely with them on everything we've done and continue to test and their medical staff has been very supportive."
Despite the team's COVID-19 troubles, Renfroe said the Red Sox have banded together and are persevering.
"We're moving forward and doing well right now," Renfroe said. "We gotta just go on and keep grinding."