Francona back managing Guardians following COVID-19 outbreak

CLEVELAND — Guardians manager Terry Francona missed

so much time over the past two seasons that even a four-game absence was difficult.

“This was forced retirement,” he said. “It wasn’t very fun.”

Francona and two of his coaches cleared health and safety protocols and returned to the team after missing part of the past week

after testing positive for COVID-19.

Francona was back for Wednesday’s game

against the Cincinnati Reds along with bench

coach Demarlo Hale and assistant hitting

coach Justin Toole. The trio tested positive with coronavirus last week while the

Guardians were in Chicago and returned to Ohio by bus as the team continued its trip to Minnesota.

However, Francona’s return was delayed another day as the Reds and Guardians were postponed by rain. The series finale will be made up Thursday with an afternoon matinee.

The Guardians have

dealt with two separate outbreaks in recent weeks, and the latest rash of cases has

heightened the team’s awareness.

“Up to this point I think we feel pretty fortunate,” Francona

said. “It was starting to work it’s way through. Once it gets into the clubhouse, everybody’s breathing on each other. We live together.

“But I will say this, it’s not like it’s over and you can let your guard down. We’re going to have to mask

up indoors just to take care. Because once it

happens, it’s kind of too late.”

First baseman Josh Naylor remains the

only Guardians player currently sidelined with the virus. However, Naylor is close to returning and was

back in the clubhouse. Francona said he

could be n the lineup as early as Friday, when the Guardians

open a three-game series at home against Detroit.

The 63-year-old Francona, in his 10th

season with Cleveland, dealt with some

symptoms over the weekend but has felt

better the past few days. He missed most

of the last two seasons to handle some serious health issues.

With Francona back, pitching coach Carl Willis returns to his normal duties after

serving as acting manager.

Sandy Alomar and Mike Sarbaugh, the team’s respective firstand third-base coaches, are still sidelined after testing positive.

Hitting coach Chris Valaika returned to

the Guardians on Tuesday after missing three games.

The Guardians considered bringing up other coaches from the minors, but Francona said the team opted to shift healthy members of his staff into other roles to give the players some continuity.

“The biggest thing with Carl was, we’re trying to keep some sense of normalcy,” he said. “When you’re missing seven guys, that’s kind of hard.

One, we know that the players will respect when Carl talks. We just wanted the games to be played like they’re supposed

to.”