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  "path": "/white-sox/2026/02/09/white-sox-covid-19-lawsuit-vaccine",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-10T00:30:30.683Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>A former <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox\" >White Sox</a> pitching prospect is suing the team, claiming he was pushed into taking a COVID-19 vaccination in 2021 that resulted in severe allergic reactions that eventually derailed his career.</p><p>Isaiah Carranza, a 12th-round draft pick of the Sox in 2018, alleges team officials warned him he’d be “blacklisted” if he didn’t get two doses of the vaccine, meaning they wouldn’t release him from his contract for opportunities with other clubs even though had “no prospects of moving up” with the Sox.</p><p>He got the Pfizer vaccine and soon began suffering “extreme dizziness, nausea, near-fainting, and wildly fluctuating heart rate” that the team chalked up to dehydration, anxiety and “rookie nerves,” attorneys for Carranza claimed in his federal lawsuit, which was filed in Chicago in December.</p><p>Numerous studies have shown that COVID-19 vaccinations are highly effective at preventing severe cases of the respiratory disease, and that severe allergic reactions are exceedingly rare. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends the vaccine <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2025/09/23/illinois-covid-19-vaccine-adults-cdc-children\" >for nearly all people</a> six months or older, not necessarily as a means of preventing infections, but of minimizing the severity of them.</p><p>Major League Baseball encouraged players to get vaccinated, but did not mandate it when the game returned early in the pandemic. </p><p>Carranza was later diagnosed with a nervous system disorder that his lawyers tie to the vaccine. He never advanced beyond the Sox’ High-A affiliate and hasn’t appeared in a Minor League game since 2022.</p><p>Carranza’s estimated future medical expenses are more than $557,000, his lawyers say. A Sox spokesman declined to comment on the active litigation.</p><p></p><p></p><div class=\"PageListL\" data-module data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-4a0005\" name=\"list-4a0005\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, inverseColors=false, footerBgColor=#000000, bodyFont=font-3, showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, rteBodyFont=font-3, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, subTitle=null, pageCount=2420, stickyHeader=true, listTitleColor=#000000, tableCellBorderColor=#ccd1d5, relatedListFont=font-1, hideAuthors=true, tertiaryTextColor=#6c6c6c, buttonHoverTextColor=#ffffff, tableFont=font-1, carouselAutoPlay=false, promoTitleFont=font-2, ctaButtonText=[], primaryTextColor=#2a2a2a, buttonTextColor=#ffffff, linkTextColor=#1a1a1a, hideTitles=false, footerLinkColor=#ffffff, carouselSpeed=null, buttonHoverBgColor=#a91d23, rteHeadingFont=font-1, secondaryColor=#656565, hideCategories=true, _template=/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs, font3=Arial, font4=Source-serif-4, ctaUrl=null, hideImage=false, footerLinkHoverColor=#d3242c, hideAudioPlayback=false, description=[], showSecondItemMedia=false, listColumns234=null, footerTextColor=#ffffff, pullQuoteIcon=[{image=null, narrowImage=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=null}], pagination=[{body=[Next Page], href=?p=2, _template=/link/Link.hbs, contentId=null, pianoSectionSlug=null, target=null}], titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, hideDescriptions=false, showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, suppressPagination=false, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, count=9679, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, _styledTemplate=/page/list/PageListL.hbs, primaryColor=#d3242c, anchorId=list-4a0005, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, tableCaptionColor=#626262, items=[{timestamp=1770682260000, type=Image, media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/40/dc/da0ba68d46409d155964a5665cf3/2163106107.jpg, width=3250, height=2168}, alt=Erick Fedde pitches against the Texas Rangers on July 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. The Sox reached a one-year deal to bring Fedde back Monday., image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/40/dc/da0ba68d46409d155964a5665cf3/2163106107.jpg, width=3250, height=2168}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs}], _styledTemplate=null, authors=[{media=[{alt=Mitchell Armentrout, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/fc/ce/f20d6ee54780a793233d9b8dc7ef/armentrout-01.jpg, width=5053, height=3370}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/fc/ce/f20d6ee54780a793233d9b8dc7ef/armentrout-01.jpg, width=5053, height=3370}}], name=[{items=[Mitchell Armentrout]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Reporter/assistant editor]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, bio=[{items=[Mitchell Armentrout is a staff reporter covering government and politics from Chicago to Springfield, focusing on the expansion of gambling across Illinois as well as the Chicago Bears’ quest for a new stadium. He also periodically serves as the Sun-Times’ White Sox beat reporter.]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/mitchell-armentrout}], imageAlignment=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox, isFeatured=false, description=[{items=[Fedde was a rare bright spot on the Sox’ dismal 2024 squad, but he struggled last year. ]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, wordCount=533, category=[{items=[White Sox]}], title=White Sox bring back Erick Fedde to compete for spot in rotation, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/09/erick-fedde-signs-white-sox-return, ampLink=null, anchorId=promo-430000, audio=[], publishDate=February 09, 2026 06:11 PM, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox, isFeatured=false, title=Spring training: It's time for White Sox' active offseason to show improved results on the field, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/06/its-time-for-white-sox-active-offseason-to-show-improved-results-on-the-field, timestamp=1770382800000, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, description=[{items=[The first official workout date for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 10. ]}], category=[{items=[White Sox]}], media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/eb/bf/8414e55f4d5191fad99431e3a775/2232609050.jpg, width=4512, height=3008}, alt=New York Yankees v Chicago White Sox, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/eb/bf/8414e55f4d5191fad99431e3a775/2232609050.jpg, width=4512, height=3008}}], ampLink=null, anchorId=promo-430001, publishDate=February 06, 2026 07:00 AM, audio=[], authors=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, bio=[{items=[Kyle Williams covers sports for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/29/f8/02a66e2347d6b4cd2b2fa0d55b68/kylewilliams-121124-6.JPG, width=6000, height=4000}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/29/f8/02a66e2347d6b4cd2b2fa0d55b68/kylewilliams-121124-6.JPG, width=6000, height=4000}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=KYLEWILLIAMS-121124-6.JPG}], name=[{items=[Kyle Williams]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams, jobTitle=[{items=[Sports reporter, Report for America]}]}], wordCount=735, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/04/white-sox-add-outfielder-austin-hays, _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox, isFeatured=false, title=White Sox add outfielder Austin Hays, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, description=[{items=[Hays signed a one-year, $6 million deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season.]}], anchorId=promo-430002, ampLink=null, media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8c/6a/b60638eb49b180567b1c652ef8e4/white-sox-hays-baseball.jpg, width=8640, height=5760}, alt=Reds Dodgers Baseball, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/8c/6a/b60638eb49b180567b1c652ef8e4/white-sox-hays-baseball.jpg, width=8640, height=5760}}], publishDate=February 04, 2026 03:13 PM, authors=[{media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/29/f8/02a66e2347d6b4cd2b2fa0d55b68/kylewilliams-121124-6.JPG, width=6000, height=4000}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/29/f8/02a66e2347d6b4cd2b2fa0d55b68/kylewilliams-121124-6.JPG, width=6000, height=4000}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=KYLEWILLIAMS-121124-6.JPG}], bio=[{items=[Kyle Williams covers sports for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, jobTitle=[{items=[Sports reporter, Report for America]}], name=[{items=[Kyle Williams]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams}], audio=[], timestamp=1770239631000, wordCount=223, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, category=[{items=[White Sox]}]}, {type=Image, _styledTemplate=null, anchorId=promo-440000, imageAlignment=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox, isFeatured=false, title=White Sox legend Frank Thomas upset about being left off team's Black History Month graphic, media=[{alt=New York Mets v Chicago White Sox, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/fc/53/954c93bd4544af5dea7e00a4f389/2169667422.jpg, width=7812, height=5208}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/fc/53/954c93bd4544af5dea7e00a4f389/2169667422.jpg, width=7812, height=5208}}], description=[{items=[A feud between Thomas and the Sox seems to have been rekindled. ]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, publishDate=February 01, 2026 06:57 PM, authors=[{jobTitle=[{items=[Sports reporter, Report for America]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, bio=[{items=[Kyle Williams covers sports for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/29/f8/02a66e2347d6b4cd2b2fa0d55b68/kylewilliams-121124-6.JPG, width=6000, height=4000}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/29/f8/02a66e2347d6b4cd2b2fa0d55b68/kylewilliams-121124-6.JPG, width=6000, height=4000}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=KYLEWILLIAMS-121124-6.JPG}], name=[{items=[Kyle Williams]}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams}], ampLink=null, category=[{items=[White Sox]}], url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/01/white-sox-legend-frank-thomas-upset-with-being-left-off-black-history-month-graphic, timestamp=1769993856000, audio=[], wordCount=447, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}], mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, title=Latest on the White sox, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the White sox</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListL-items\" data-with-borders> <div class=\"PageListL-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/09/erick-fedde-signs-white-sox-return\" >White Sox bring back Erick Fedde to compete for spot in rotation</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Fedde was a rare bright spot on the Sox’ dismal 2024 squad, but he struggled last year. </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770682260000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/mitchell-armentrout\" >Mitchell Armentrout </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"533\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListL-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/06/its-time-for-white-sox-active-offseason-to-show-improved-results-on-the-field\" >Spring training: It's time for White Sox' active offseason to show improved results on the field</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">The first official workout date for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 10. </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770382800000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams\" >Kyle Williams </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"735\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListL-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/04/white-sox-add-outfielder-austin-hays\" >White Sox add outfielder Austin Hays</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Hays signed a one-year, $6 million deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770239631000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams\" >Kyle Williams </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"223\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListL-items-item\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/01/white-sox-legend-frank-thomas-upset-with-being-left-off-black-history-month-graphic\" >White Sox legend Frank Thomas upset about being left off team's Black History Month graphic</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">A feud between Thomas and the Sox seems to have been rekindled. </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1769993856000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kyle-williams\" >Kyle Williams </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"447\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p></p>",
  "title": "Former prospect sues White Sox claiming COVID-19 vaccination ended his career",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-10T00:43:33.889Z"
}