The Washington Nationals and vice president Bob Boone are parting ways after Boone refused to comply with the organization’s newly established COVID-19 vaccination policy, according to multiple reports Wednesday.
Employees within the organization were notified in mid-August that they had until Aug. 26 (two weeks) to provide proof of vaccination or apply for an exemption.
Per reporting from The Washington Post, non-complying employees were then placed on administrative leave and had a deadline of Sept. 15 to comply or have their contracts terminated.
“As a company, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep one another safe and felt that mandating vaccines was the absolute right thing to do for our employees and our community,” the team said in a statement released last week.
Boone informed The Washington Post that the two sides are “unfortunately” parting ways.
Boone, 73, joined the Nationals in 2004, eventually rising to his current role after the 2015 season. He was formerly a manager with the Kansas City Royals (1995-97) and Cincinnati Reds (2001-03) and enjoyed a 19-year MLB career with four All-Star appearances as a catcher.
He is the father of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
The Washington Examiner reported that Boone informed staff of his resignation, while The Athletic confirms that at least two scouts have had their contracts terminated as a result of their unwillingness to get the vaccine as well.
–Field Level Media