Terry Francona is discharged from the hospital and misses the second match in a row

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Cleveland Guardians coach Terry Francona will not be with the team for the second straight game after being hospitalized when he became light-headed prior to the start of a series against the Kansas City Royals.

Francona, who has had significant health problems in recent years, spent Tuesday night at the University of Kansas Health System and was released on Wednesday. The team said the tests carried out on the 64-year-old “all came back within the normal range”.

Doctors advised Francona to rest for the next few days. The team said his status would be determined daily.

General Manager Mike Chernoff has joined the team in Kansas City and is expected to provide an additional update on Francona.

Guardians coach Dimarlo Hill will once again take over his managerial duties in Francona’s absence. Hill served as Cleveland’s acting manager for the last 63 games of 2021 when Francona had to walk away.

The Guardians, who rallied to win 2-1 on Tuesday after Francona fell ill, have had a six-game trip. After facing the Royals again on Thursday, they will open a three-game series in Chicago against the Cubs before returning home for their final home before the All-Star break.

Francona is in his eleventh season with Cleveland. Even though his contract expired after last season, he has made a deal with the Guardians to stay in place for as long as he wants.

Francona has dealt with some major health issues in the past three years.

He managed just 14 games in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season due to digestive issues, and he walked away from the Guardian in the second half in 2021 to have a hip replacement and treatment for a staph infection in his toe.

In 2017, Francona had heart surgery during the All-Star break and didn’t manage the MLS team as planned.

Francona has been feeling good this season, often sincere in poking fun at his sometimes frail condition with his usual self-deprecating sense of humor.

Prior to taking over as Cleveland’s manager in 2013, Francona spent eight seasons with the Boston Red Sox. He helped end the team’s 86-year drought for World Series championships, claiming a title in 2004 and winning a second championship in 2007.

Francona played 10 seasons in the majors, and broke out with Montreal in 1981. He was also with the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, and Milwaukee.

Francona’s late father, Tito, was a major mobster.