Andrew Benintendi made his debut for the New York Yankees on Thursday after being acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Royals.

Among other things, Benintendi fielded questions about his decision not to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which prohibits him from traveling to Toronto to play against the Blue Jays.

"I'm still positioned in the same spot," Benintendi said. "I'm open-minded about it. I'm not against it. But time will tell."

Benintendi also refuted rumors that he agreed to become inoculated as a condition of the trade. 

The Yankees have a three-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto coming up in September and there remains a possibility the two clubs could meet in the playoffs.