Isaiah Carranza was a ‘gifted’ MLB prospect, but his transition to a $19-an-hour job after a vaccine mandate is a blunt reality check for the league

Former MLB prospect Isaiah Carranza is suing the Chicago White Sox and Major League Baseball for over $20 million. He alleges discrimination and negligence stemming from a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that he claims ended his promising career. Carranza, once a highly touted pitcher, now works as a Lululemon sales associate earning $19 an hour. His federal lawsuit paints a stark picture of a career derailed by alleged health issues following his mandated vaccination.

A 6-foot-5 right-hander from La Verne, California, Carranza always had what he calls a “live arm.” He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2015, went on to pitch for the University of Oregon, and was later picked up by the Chicago White Sox in the 2018 MLB Draft. Coaches and scouts were certainly impressed by his consistent delivery and a fastball that regularly topped 90 mph. “I remember even some of the coaches were like, ‘You’re blessed with a gifted arm,’” Carranza told Daily Mail.

The 2021 vaccine mandate was the turning point for Carranza and his teammates, who felt they were given no choice. Carranza wasn’t against vaccinations generally; his own daughter has received recommended childhood immunizations, even as legal changes reduced the number of diseases children are routinely vaccinated against. However, as professional athletes not considered a high-risk group, he and his teammates questioned if the vaccine was truly meant for them.

Things really started going downhill after that mandate

Players were told they would be “blacklisted” if they refused, meaning they would be sidelined while the team retained their rights, preventing them from pursuing MLB dreams elsewhere. This mandate for minor leaguers stood in stark contrast to Major League players, who faced no such requirement. While big leaguers opting out only faced local regulations, the league office didn’t penalize them further. Minor leaguers, lacking union representation until 2022, were left largely at the mercy of team medical staff.

Following his vaccination, Carranza alleges he began experiencing intense nausea, blurred and tunnel vision, numbness in his extremities, lightheadedness, an elevated heart rate, extreme fatigue, and migraine headaches. His performance on the mound suffered dramatically; he suddenly found it difficult to see catchers’ hand signals.

The lawsuit claims the White Sox were “dismissive” of his complaints, allegedly encouraging Carranza to see a therapist who suspected suppressed childhood trauma rather than vaccine side effects. One physician blamed his problems on caffeine and ibuprofen, despite no prior issues. When Carranza inquired about an adverse vaccine reaction, he was told it was “not possible.”

By 2023, Carranza’s career was effectively over. He attempted two simulated innings during spring training but couldn’t continue due to heart rate and balance issues. He was released in January 2024. Before his release, a trainer allegedly suggested he had postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) but immediately denied any connection to the vaccination.

Carranza’s diagnosis tells a different story. The lawsuit reports that cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough has diagnosed him with vaccine-induced POTS. This rare condition was identified in only 268 out of 100,000 adults in a 2022 study. His diagnosis is further supported by elevated spike protein levels and autonomic dysfunction. Carranza seeks $557,690 for future medical expenses and compensation for lost wages estimated between $3.4 million and $20 million.

While attorneys push for a jury trial, the White Sox filed a motion to dismiss, with a ruling expected in late April.