A former Chicago White Sox minor league pitcher is suing the Chicago White Sox and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, alleging he was forced to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Isaiah Carranza alleges the White Sox and Major League Baseball violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to accommodate a known disability, discriminated against him based on an actual or perceived disability, and retaliated against him for raising medical concerns.
According to court documents, Carranza claims he was required to take two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and suffered severe allergic reactions that ultimately derailed his professional baseball career.
The 28-year-old right-hander was selected by the White Sox in the 12th round of the 2018 draft. He spent two seasons with the organization’s High-A affiliate in Winston-Salem, posting a 7.54 ERA across 32 appearances from 2021-2022.
Carranza’s attorneys argue that unionized MLB players were not required to take the vaccine while minor league players, who lacked union representation and the financial security to speak up, were forced to comply in order to keep their jobs, creating an unequal system.
While MLB encouraged players to get vaccinated, the MLB Players Association negotiated protections that prevented major leaguers from being mandated to receive it.
While MLB encouraged vaccination, the MLB Players Association negotiated protections that prevented major leaguers from being mandated to receive it.
Because of that distinction, the lawsuit alleges minor leaguers who refused the vaccine faced consequences for noncompliance, including blacklisting within the organization, denial of promotions, and restrictions on opportunities with other teams through refusal to grant contract releases.
Carranza’s résumé did little to warrant a promotion. In 2022, Carranza appeared in limited action, throwing 15 innings while allowing 22 hits and 19 earned runs. He struck out 21 and walked nine, finishing his final season in pro-ball with an 11.40 ERA.
Alleged Vaccine Reactions and Team Response
However, Carranza cited the vaccine as a reason for these struggles. After receiving two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, he claims he experienced severe adverse reactions, including dizziness, nausea, heart rate irregularities, and significant pain and dysfunction in his pitching arm. However, when he raised concerns, the lawsuit claims that the team medical staff dismissed and minimized his symptoms and failed to properly evaluate or accommodate him.
Court documents add that Carranza was later diagnosed with a permanent autonomic nervous system disorder, which he attributes to the vaccine and alleges ended his professional baseball career.
“Major League Baseball and the Chicago White Sox imposed a mandatory medical procedure on a young pitcher, then turned their backs when that procedure destroyed his health and ended his career,” Carranza’s co-council, John M. Liston, said in a statement.” The ADA exists precisely to prevent powerful employers from sacrificing disabled workers to institutional convenience. This case is about accountability for a system that coerced compliance, denied the injury, and discriminated against an injured athlete instead of providing the accommodations and protection the law requires.”
Legal Challenges Ahead
Carranza is now seeking compensatory and punitive damages, arguing that he lost an estimated $3.4 million to $19.9 million in potential career earnings. The lawsuit also says that he spent over $557,000 in medical expenses.
Carranza is likely to face a significant legal hurdle. At the time, both the Illinois and North Carolina Departments of Public Health recommended the COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 6 months and older, in line with guidance adopted by most states.
Payouts tied to COVID-19 vaccine claims have been limited. As of January, more than 14,000 claims had been filed through the federal Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program, with roughly 3% approved and only a small number deemed eligible for compensation.
Workplace mandate challenges have also seen mixed results. An estimated 3,000 employment-related lawsuits have been filed nationwide, the bulk of which have targeted private employers. Early in the pandemic, courts largely upheld vaccine requirements, and many constitutional challenges failed.
However, religious accommodation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act have gained more traction in recent years. Carranza’s claims do not fall under that category.
