Report: Nationals Are First Known MLB Team to Fire Employees for Refusing COVID Vaccine

The Nationals parted ways with multiple employees on Wednesday over their refusal to get vaccinated for COVID-19, according to The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli. Eight scouts in total were let go but two of them were informed they would not be with the Nationals next season for their refusal to get vaccinated, while the other six firings were mainly performance-based. The Nationals are the first known MLB team to part ways with employees due to vaccinated status.

The Nationals are also expected to part ways with Bob Boone, who has been with the team's front office since 2005, for his refusal to get vaccinated. Boone is a former catcher and manager who was named an All-Star four times and won seven Golden Gloves over his 18-year playing career. He's also the father of former players Bret and Aaron Boone, the latter of which currently manages the New York Yankees. 

The news comes after the Nationals, along with the Astros, informed non-playing full-time employees that they would be required to get vaccinated. The Orioles also informed all full-time and part-time year-round employees that they will need to be full vaccinated by Oct. 31, according to an email obtained by The Athletic. 

"As a company, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep one another safe and felt that mandating vaccines is the absolute right thing to do for our employees and our community," the Nationals said in a statement to ESPN on Friday. 

The Nationals also put minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman on unpaid administrative leave for not getting vaccinated, per The Washington Post. He has until Sept. 15 to get vaccinated or he'll be fired. 

These mandates don't apply to players because MLB and the players union didn't agree to a vaccination requirement.