GM Ben Cherington: Expect Pirates to reach 85% vaccination threshold by end of the week

The Pittsburgh Pirates soon will be allowed to take off their masks in the dugout and bullpen and loosen road restrictions, as they are expected to reach the 85% vaccination threshold by the end of the week.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington revealed the vaccination update Sunday afternoon on his weekly radio show on 93.7 FM, adding some people in their travel party are “still in that two-week waiting period after second shots” to be deemed fully vaccinated.

“That’s good news because there are things that come with that that make it easier for players’ and staff families to travel, which is important,” Cherington said. “Baseball season is a long season. Players and staff are dealing with that long season in normal times that occsionally families can join you on the road. That was just taken away completely. That can come back. That’s really good news.”

The Associated Press reported Saturday that 20 of 30 MLB teams have reached the 85% threshold, with two others expected to do so within the next two weeks. By doing so, players and coaches aren’t required to wear face masks in the dugout or bullpen, can dine out while on the road and have access to facilities that had been restricted.

“People can go out and eat at a restaurant, which sounds like such a simple thing but when you’re in the middle of a six-month season and you cannot do that, it’s hard to feel like you’re kind of trapped in your room at the hotel, so to speak, which has basically been the case for us for a couple years,” Cherington said.

“Some of the benefits inside the clubhouse, resources like saunas and game rooms, things that players had a way of either recovering or enjoying themselves are coming back, so that’s good news. Less masks in the dugout, for example, once we get past that Friday point where we’re at 85%. We feel good that just means that, hopefully, we’re safer.”