Cubs President Jed Hoyer Disappointed Team Hasn't Hit 85% COVID-19 Vaccination Rate

Chicago Cubs president Jed Hoyer isn't optimistic that his team will reach the necessary COVID-19 vaccine threshold to have relaxed protocols. 

Speaking to reporters prior to Thursday's game against the Washington Nationals, Hoyer said it's "disappointing" the Cubs are unlikely to reach the 85 percent threshold required by Major League Baseball.

"We've worked hard to try and convince or educate the people that have been reluctant," said Hoyer. "We're at a place right now—I'm not going to give up hope we're going to get there—my level of optimism is waning. It is disappointing."

Per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, around half of MLB teams have reached the 85 percent threshold to qualify for reduced restrictions. 

While it's unclear how many members of the Cubs have been vaccinated, Hoyer did note they "aren't a player away" from reaching the threshold. 

All-Star shortstop Javier Baez has been open about encouraging others to get vaccinated. He recently did a PSA for Walgreens' "This is Our Shot" campaign to promote the vaccine. 

“We want to be safe out there," Baez told Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. "We obviously want to end this pandemic. The smart thing to do right now is to get vaccinated.”

In an internal memo issued to teams in March, MLB said fully vaccinated players, coaches and other Tier 1 staff members would have relaxed COVID-19 protocols. 

The relaxed protocols include gathering in indoor spaces without masks, social distancing, eat in restaurants, bring vaccinated family members on road trips, and the ability to opt out of some testing.