Minor league manager in A’s system shows improvement

Oakland A’s minor league manager Webster Garrison, who has been hospitalized and on a ventilator while battling coronavirus, is now showing marked improvement, his fiancee said.

Garrison is “turning the corner” in his fight, Nikki Trudeaux said while providing updates about her fiancee, a former major leaguer who has spent the past 22 years in the A’s organization as a coach and manager.

“Web was 100% dependent on the ventilator yesterday morning, 80% this morning and now 60% tonight,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter. “His respiratory blood work came back really good, too!! He’s coming back to us y’all. ... Keep praying.”

Trudeaux, who has also tested positive for the virus but is without serious issues, has been asking for nightly prayers with the hash tag “WebbyStrong” for the 54- year- old Garrison. He remains hospitalized in Louisi

ana, where his outlook was much worse late last week when Trudeaux tweeted, “This man, my fiancé, Webster Garrison, the love of my life, is on a ventilator in the hospital, fighting for his life, and I can’t even be at his side!”

The A’s announced last week a member of their minor league staff had tested positive for COVID-19, but didn’t identify Garrison.

“We want to extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to our colleague for a speedy recovery,” the team said. “We are committed to providing him and his family with support and care. Every person on our team plays a critical role to our success and we look forward to his return to the field when he is healthy.”

Garrison, who managed the A’s Single-A Stockton Ports last season, had been assigned to manage one of the organization’s teams in the Arizona Fall League this year.

The well-liked Garrison spent a brief time in the majors with Oakland in 1996, playing in five games and drawing a walk in just 10 plate appearances.