Sawt Falasteen - Dodgers say pitching icon Valenzuela 'focusing on health'

"Fernando Valenzuela has stepped away from the Dodger broadcast booth for the remainder of this year to focus on his health," the Dodgers said in a statement.

"He and his family truly appreciate the love and support of fans as he aims to return for the 2025 season, and they have asked for privacy during this time."

The Dodgers, who open their Major League Baseball playoff campaign on Saturday, issued the statement in the wake of reports that the 63-year-old had been hospitalized with an unspecified illness.

Valenzuela is a beloved figure in Los Angeles, where he burst onto the national scene in 1981, when he won his first eight MLB games, five by shutout.

"Fernando-mania" gripped MLB, drawing thousands of Mexican-American fans to Dodger Stadium and to ballparks throughout the United States.

That year, he became the only player to win the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year Award in the same season, leading the National League in strikeouts, shutouts, complete games, innings pitched and starts.

He also helped the Dodgers to their 1981 World Series triumph over the New York Yankees.

Valenzuela also played on the Dodgers team that beat Oakland for the World Series crown in 1988 and threw a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 29, 1990.

He finished his career with a 173-153 record and a 3.54 ERA.

Valenzuela departed the Dodgers after the 1990 season and went on to pitch for the California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.

Since 2023, he has worked as a Spanish-language broadcaster covering Dodgers games.

Y.Shaath--SF-PST