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By Tyler Hewey
On Tuesday, the Boston Red Sox hosted the Toronto Blue Jays for their home opener. The Red Sox may have lost to the Blue Jays, 7-5, but the Red Sox received some serious bling. The Red Sox were awarded their 2018 World Series Championship Rings on Tuesday afternoon. There is one event left for the 2018 champions before the baseball can turn the page on last year and completely focus on this year.
The Red Sox are scheduled to visit Donald Trump and the White House on May 9 after their original visit on February 15 was postponed due to the government shutdown. A number of Red Sox players though will not be making the trip to the White House.
Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports that the Boston Red Sox play the Orioles in Baltimore on May 8th then they will have two flights. One flight that will leave Baltimore right after the game to Boston and a flight that will leave on May 9th for Boston after the White House event for those attending.
Hector Velasquez is a no.
On April 3rd, Velasquez told MassLive, “the president has said a lot of stuff about Mexico. And I have a lot of people in Mexico that are fans of me, that follow me. And I’m from there. So I would rather not offend anyone over there.”
Mookie Betts is a no.
On January 26th, the regular season MVP said in a press conference, “I won’t be going there. I decided not to.”
Jackie Bradley Jr. is a no.
The ALCS MVP announced his decision to skip the White House trip on Twitter on February 8th.
Rafael Devers is a no.
Devers told Chris Mason of The Eagle Tribune via a translator “the opportunity was presented and I just wasn’t compelled to go.”
Sandy Leon is likely a yes.
Leon told The Boston Globe on February 7th that he has made a final decision but is likely to go.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” said Leon,” “it would be an honor.”
Alex Cora is very up in the air.
At first manager, Cora was all for going to meeting President Trump and using the meeting as a platform. Cora was asked later and he told the Globe. “It’s not that I’ve changed my mind, but we’ll see what happens in the upcoming days.”
Many players have not made their decision yet on whether or not they will be attending.
There are a couple of things for the Red Sox players to consider. The original trip was in February which was during Spring Training which would have been fine to miss or take a day off from. During the regular season, a baseball team gets one maybe two days off during a month so days off are meaningful. There is just under a month before players will be in Washington D.C visiting Donald Trump and taking photos and making memories with the President.
Well, I should say, the players and personal that will be making the trip.
