Report: Longtime Nationals executive will resign rather than take COVID-19 vaccine

A scouting executive's 15-year tenure with the Washington Nationals is ending because of his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Nationals instituted a vaccine mandate for all non-player employees earlier this month, and the due date has apparently arrived. That has resulted in the impending departure of longtime executive Bob Boone, the father of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, as well as two scouts, according to The Washington Post's Jesse Dougherty.

Under the Nationals' policy, all unvaccinated employees have reportedly been placed on administrative leave and will have their contracts terminated on Sept. 15 unless they comply or provide a medical exemption.

The Nationals and the Houston Astros were the first teams to institute such policies, and now the Nationals may be the first team to sever ties over them.

Bob Boone's son is vaccinated

The 73-year-old Boone, who spent 19 seasons as a catcher in MLB and six seasons as a manager, confirmed to the Post that he will leave the organization rather than comply with the policy.

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Boone has been with the Nationals since their inaugural season in 2005 and has worked as assistant general manager and vice president of player development. He reportedly remains a trusted adviser for general manager Mike Rizzo.

While the elder Boone is apparently unvaccinated, his son Aaron isn't. The Yankees manager, who has a heart condition, received the vaccine in March and has encouraged others to follow suit.

Making the situation even more awkward is that Bob Boone's grandson Jake, the son of former MLB second baseman Bret Boone, is a minor leaguer in the Nationals organization.