Guardians manager Terry Francona recently revealed the concerning reason behind his absence from the dugout last week.
Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona was missing in action for several days due to a health issue, and Francona himself provided more details about his brief absence.
Last week, Francona missed three games due to "lightheadedness," according to ESPN. Francona made a public appearance on Thursday to oversee the Guardians game against the Kansas City Royals, but at that period in time, interim manager DeMarlo Hale still held the reins.
Francona returned to the dugout on Friday for a matchup against the Cubs. Cleveland took a heavy loss that day, 10-1, with the sole silver lining being Francona slowly working his way back up to full health.
The 64-year-old manager said of his health concerns on Friday:
Guardians manager Terry Francona relays concerning symptoms during absence
The three-time AL Manager of the Year has suffered from health complications in the past ranging from gastrointestinal issues to various necessary surgeries.
He missed 14 games in the 2020 season and also missed a chunk of the 2021 season; Hale stepped into the role of interim manager during that 63-game absence.
Francona enjoyed one of his healthiest seasons in 2022, but this latest medical scare rightfully rang some alarms within the Guardians organization.
Guardians general manager Mike Chernoff noted how the club had to be "super cautious" given Francona's history, and they'll likely continue to monitor his health closely. Hopefully, the worst is over, and Francona can focus on helping Cleveland climb the AL Central for the rest of the 2023 season.
