MLB star and Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said being blocked from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Canada will not change his decision to remain unvaccinated.
Due to the catcher’s vaccination status, he has been barred from participating in his team’s two-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada, according to the report.
Realmuto appeared unfazed by the decision.
J.T. Realmuto on not being able to join the Phillies in Toronto due to his vaccination status: pic.twitter.com/7suM66OYaB
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“I’m a healthy 31-year-old professional athlete,” he said Monday.
“I’m not going to let Canada tell me what I do and don’t put in my body.”
Canada’s restrictions under Trudeau prohibit unvaccinated players from entering the country, the report noted.
As a result of the ban, Realmuto will lose out on roughly $262,000 for missing the series, in accordance with MLB’s new collective bargaining agreement, according to the report.
That’s “a little bit of money,” said the catcher, who signed a $115.5 million contract last year.
“It’s just not worth it,” he said.
The ban on those choosing to be unvaccinated is an “extremely unfortunate situation,” he added.
“My teammates know how I feel about them and how bad I want to be out there with them,” Realmuto said. “But it’s just unfortunate that I’m not able to make the trip.”
There is a possibility that the Phillies and Blue Jays could meet in the World Series, but Realmuto said that is far down the line.
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“I hope by that point that it’s all figured out and we don’t have to deal with this anymore,” he said.
