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Terry Francona, the manager of the Cleveland Indians, will not manage this year’s MLB All-Star game after undergoing a heart procedure Thursday, according to Fox Sports’ reporter Ken Rosenthal. Francona underwent a catheter ablation to address an irregular heartbeat.
Even though Francona will not manage the All-Star game, Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com reported that Francona is expected to be released from the hospital in the next day or two. Rosenthal also tweeted that Francona will rejoin Cleveland after the break.
Rosenthal also reports that Brad Mills, Cleveland’s bench coach, will manage the American League All-Star team. The Indians’ coaching staff and Kevin Cash, the Tampa Bay Rays’ manager, will assist Mills.
Tuesday, Chris Antonetti, Cleveland’s president of baseball operations, said Francona, 58, wasn't going to manage the Indians that night because he was undergoing tests at the Cleveland Clinic. In June, Francona went to the hospital twice after leaving games for light lightheadedness and a rapid heart rate.
The next day, Francona was still hospitalized due to tests and missed the Indians’ game against the Padres, according to UPI.com. Antonetti said he visited Francona and had discussions about his long-term health:
"We talked about a wide variety of issues from different trade conversations we're having and things going on with the team, so he's actively engaged and actively itching to get back," Antonetti said. "But as I've shared with him, the most important thing for all of us is his health, his long-term health, and we want to make sure we get him back healthy and ready to lead us the rest of the way."
Cleveland outfielder Brandon Guyer told Meisel on Thursday afternoon that “baseball doesn't really matter.” Guyer said the team wants Francona to get healthy and “get back here whenever he can."
The Indians are in first place in the AL Central with a 45-39 record. Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez, Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller, Francisco Lindor, and Michael Brantley were all selected to play in this year’s All-Star game.