CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians expect manager Terry Francona to return for the 2021 season after he missed 48 games in 2020 because of health issues.
President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Tuesday the 61-year-old Francona is back home in Arizona resting and recovering. Francona, a New Brighton native, was hospitalized during the season after undergoing surgery for a gastrointestinal issue and then dealing with blood clotting complications.
Antonetti has been in daily contact with Francona, Cleveland’s manager for the past eight seasons. The Indians have made the playoffs eight times since he came to the club in 2013.
“He’s starting to feel better, and he’s really confident he’ll be able to manage right from the start next season,” Antonetti said on a Zoom call.
Francona is expected to speak with the media Wednesday. He’s missed time over the past three seasons for a variety of medical reasons.
First-base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. managed the Indians while Francona was out.
Francona has 1,702 career wins (1,434 losses) as a manager, including two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox (2004, 2007). He won an additional AL pennant with Cleveland in 2016.
