Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker is slated to resume his managing duties on Monday in St. Louis when the Reds kick off their final regular season series against the Cardinals, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Fay met with Baker briefly Thursday morning and discussed his health:
"I feel better than before," he said. Baker, dressed in jeans and a casual shirt, looked noticeably thinner....
He was smiling and joking about his stay in the hospital. "I’ve never been poked so much in my life," Baker said. "I asked the one nurse if I had any blood left."
Baker was admitted to the hospital last Wednesday in Chicago to undergo tests to check for pneumonia. The doctors ruled out any pulmonary problems but found that he was actually suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat. Baker remained in the hospital until Friday and was set to be discharged when he suffered a mild stroke.
Baker was finally discharged from the hospital on Sunday and returned to Cincinnati where he has been resting at home. The Reds have gone 5-3 in Baker's absence and clinched the NL Central last Saturday night.
Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker revealed Tuesday that he suffered a "mini-stroke" on Friday while preparing to be discharged from a Chicago hospital where he was being treated for an irregular heartbeat, reports Mark Sheldon of MLB.com:
As [Baker] was being discharged on Friday, he suffered a mini-stroke and immediately was treated by the hospital’s stroke team, which minimized the effects of the stroke.
Dusty returned to Cincinnati on Sunday, and his condition has improved dramatically.
Baker was originally admitted to the hospital last Wednesday by ambulance after complaining of chest discomfort in his office prior to the day's game. After two nights in the hospital the 63-year-old was given the all-clear to go home Friday, but then suffered the stroke.
Both Baker's cardiologist and neurologist believe the Reds' manager will make a full recovery, which is fantastic news in what has been a very scary week. Baker is not expected to return to the dugout until the final series of the season at the earliest.
