Recently traded Red Sox outfielder has been diagnosed with allergy to batting gloves.
Former Boston outfielder ‘flabbergasted’ by uncommon allergic response
An outfielder who played for the Boston Red Sox between 2020 and 2023 has been diagnosed with a batting glove allergy.
In a report published Friday, NJ.com’s Randy Miller disclosed that 28-year-old Alex Verdugo, now a member of the New York Yankees, has been medically assessed for a serious allergic reaction to the chemicals cobalt and chromate discovered in his Franklin batting gloves.
According to Miller, Verdugo’s recently discovered allergy has caused blistering and scabbing hands, as well as a great deal of trouble at the plate this season.
“Verdugo was a career.”Miller noted, “He was a 281 hitter coming into the season, but he was hitting nearly 50 points lower in the first half of his first season with the Yankees.” “He wanted to know why. After assessing Verdugo, the Yankees’ medical team referred him to an allergist. They suspected he had come into contact with a material that was producing dermatitis, a skin disorder characterized by rashes, itching, and blisters. “You’re allergic to your batting gloves,” the doctor explained.
“Verdugo was stunned… His allergy responses were linked to two substances in his Franklin batting gloves: cobalt and chromate. Verdugo continues to play with taped fingers and wrapped palms, waiting for Franklin to produce an alternative glove. However, there may be an urgent remedy. Franklin is now attempting to remove the two substances that may be causing Verdugo’s continuous downturn.”
Entering Friday, Verdugo was hitting .237 this year for the Yankees with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs in 117 games played. He was traded by the Red Sox to New York on December 5, 2023 for Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice.
