Cleveland manager Terry Francona missed the Guardians’ Tuesday night game against the Royals due to an undisclosed condition that required precautionary testing and led to him remaining overnight at a Kansas City hospital.
Guardians bench coach DeMarlo Hale took over managerial duties in Francona’s absence and led the team to a 2-1 win.
After the game, Hale said of Francona, “I found out right before the game — probably 15 minutes (before). He gave me a shout. He said, ‘Get in here. I’m not feeling too well. I’m gonna take off.’ I said, ‘OK.’ And it was so close (to game time that) I didn’t get to ask him what’s going on. He told me to touch base with him after the game. No update yet.”
Francona, 64, appeared fine in his pregame press conference but later said he didn’t feel well. After being looked at by Royals medical personnel, he was taken to the University of Kansas Health System by ambulance for further testing.
Cleveland’s skipper has a history of medical complications, including gastrointestinal problems that prevented him from managing most of the 2020 season and hip replacement surgery and surgery on his left big toe due to a staph infection in 2021.
Francona also underwent cardiac ablation surgery in 2017 and has dealt with blood clots throughout his career.
The Guardians (38-40) hold second place in the American League Central, a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins.