The Red Sox loved playing Fortnite last season en route to their World Series run, but things aren't quite as fun in 2019. Boston is below .500 and only 3 1/2 games ahead of the Orioles for last place in the AL East. So to try and get back in the standings, the team has decided to focus and quit playing Fortnite in the clubhouse.
According to multiple players, it was decided by the team that the time used playing the game in the clubhouse had gotten to a point where it was becoming counterproductive to putting their best foot forward on the field.
Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi expanded on those thoughts with WEEI.
"I think there is a time and place for that, too," Eovaldi said. "Maybe if we were doing a little better maybe we would be doing it, but you can’t be losing and playing Fortnite in the clubhouse.
"I think everybody, in general, understands that rule. When I came over here last year I was surprised because when I was with the Rays you didn’t do that. When I came over here we’re in first-place, everybody is having a good time and getting the job done. Now we have other things we have to focus on and tend to."
MORE: Carlos Santana smashed TV after Phillies played Fortnite during games
David Price Eovaldi caught attention last season when it was revealed they played Fortnite together before the team's Game 5 World Series win over the Dodgers.
David Price said he prepared for his start today by playing Fortnite with Nathan Eovaldi last night.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) October 29, 2018
"Yes, we did win," Price said.
More details from Yahoo Sports on that game:
Price went into preparation mode. He grabbed dinner, put on his headphones and ate in the office of Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick. Back at the hotel, he hopped on his Xbox, opened Fortnite and teamed with Eovaldi for a few games of duos. This is their custom, with Eovaldi dropping into the war zone of Tilted Towers, Price preferring the safer terrain of Wailing Woods, both keen to forget baseball for a few hours at a time. Even after Game 3, following his herculean six-inning relief effort, Eovaldi said Price “wanted me to get on, but I was a little tired. So I got on that next morning, and we got a couple dubs.”
As WEEI notes, the players haven't quit playing the game entirely. They're just not playing it in the clubhouse as a pregame activity anymore.
