Leonys Martin in stable condition with infection

Ailment considered ‘life-threatening’

Indians center fielder is battling a life-threatening bacterial infection but has been upgraded to stable condition.

Indians center fielder Leonys Martin is battling a life-threatening bacterial infection but has been upgraded to stable condition, Indians president Chris Antonetti told reporters in Cincinnati on Aug. 13 before the Tribe played a game with the Reds in Great American Ballpark.

Martin has been in Cleveland Clinic since Aug. 10.

“Leonys had a bacterial infection that entered his blood stream and when it entered his blood stream it produced toxins,” Antonetti said. “Those toxins did damage to his internal organs and the functioning of those organs was compromised, and it was severe.

“Thankfully, he’s made a lot of progress in the last 24 to 36 hours and he’s regained a lot of the organ function. And so, we’re optimistic. He’s on a good path right now, and we’re hopeful that he’ll have a full recovery.”

Despite the optimism, Antonetti added a word of caution: “Progress will be measured in weeks, not days.”

The MLB playoffs begin in seven weeks. Martin’s condition makes his availability for the postseason uncertain, and though the Indians are more concerned about Martin as a person, Antonetti has to make contingency plans in case Martin cannot play in early October.

Manager Terry Francona hinted Martin’s condition was serious when he last talked about it while the Indians were in Chicago for a three-game series with the White Sox.

“We have to respect what the family wishes, so we are,” Francona told reporters. “We talked to the team a little bit. We just need to respect their privacy right now.

“What I would say, if you believe in saying prayers and things like that, keep him in your thoughts. But he’s in a good place. He’s at the Clinic, and he’s getting good care.”

Martin, acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline, became ill Aug. 7. Francona on Aug. 8 said

Martin had an intestinal disorder.

Martin has played in six games with the Indians and collected five hits — two of them home runs — in 15 at bats. He has driven in four runs.

Greg Allen was recalled from Columbus when Martin was put on the disabled list Aug. 9.

The Indians traded for Martin because of numerous injuries to their outfielders: Tyler Naquin could miss another month or more with a hip injury, Lonnie Chisenhall is out with a calf injury and Bradley Zimmer is recovering from shoulder surgery that could leave him on the shelf until midway through 2019.

Teams have until Aug. 31 to trade for players that have cleared waivers. Whether the Indians make a move could depend on the updates they get on Martin.

“We’ll continue to spend the month of August looking for opportunities to improve our team,” Antonetti said Aug. 9, the day Martin was put in the disabled list. “What impact Martin’s condition or illness has on that, we’re not yet sure.”

Antonetti said he expects Chisenhall and Naquin to be back with the Indians before the regular season ends.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Leonys Martin watches his solo home run off Angels starter Felix Pena during the sixth inning Aug. 4 in Cleveland.