Dodgers legend and broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela on leave to focus on health

In order to “focus on his health,” former Los Angeles Dodgers icon Fernando Valenzuela has left his position as a Spanish-language radio commentator, the team announced in a statement on Thursday.

“Fernando Valenzuela has stepped away from the Dodger broadcast booth for the remainder of this year to focus on his health,” the Dodgers announced in the statement that was uploaded to their social media platforms. “He and his family truly appreciate the love and support of fans as he aims to return for the 2025 season, and they have asked for privacy during this time.”

For a few weeks now, Valenzuela had not been on Dodger broadcasts; yet, the cause for his absence had not been disclosed. Leading Mexican sportswriter David Faitelson revealed Valenzuela’s hospitalization on Monday.

Since 2003, he has been a part of the broadcast booth for the team.

Born in Navojoa, Mexico, Valenzuela, now sixty-three, became an instant fan favourite of the Dodgers, inspiring the city’s predominantly Hispanic population to embrace the team. He ignited “Fernandomania” in 1981 by winning the NL Cy Young Award in addition to the National League Rookie of the Year title. Of his 17 MLB seasons, Valenzuela spent 11 of them with the Dodgers.

During a series against the Colorado Rockies in August 2023, the Dodgers hosted a three-day ceremony to retire Valenzuela’s No. 34 uniform. Before the event, it had not been formally retired, but since Valenzuela left the Dodgers in 1991, no player has worn it. Since the team has a regulation requiring players to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame before having their uniform retired, Los Angeles defied precedent in retiring the jersey.