Washington Nationals’ manager Davey Martinez left the Nats’ dugout in the sixth inning of Sunday afternoon’s series finale with the Atlanta Braves, and, bench coach Chip Hale told reporters after the game, was taken to a local hospital.
“He wasn’t feeling good,” Hale explained, without offering any specifics as to what the issue was for the Nationals’ second-year skipper.
“So just for precautionary reasons they took him to the hospital just to see what’s going on, but we’re expecting everything will be good,” Hale added.
Asked if this was the first time the issue came up, Hale said that Martinez didn’t feel good to start and it got worse as the day went along.
“As the game went on he started to not feel so great, so [Head Trainer] Paul [Lessard] and the training staff decided that’s the best course of action.”
Martinez’s bench coach said then that he was confident the manager would join the team in St. Louis where the Nationals and Cardinals start a three-game set tonight, but there weren’t any details until today...
Earlier this afternoon, the Nationals released a statement via the club’s PR team:
“Dave Martinez stayed in Washington D.C. for precautionary medical testing. Bench Coach Chip Hale will manage the team tonight in St. Louis.”
When he arrived at Busch Stadium this afternoon, Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo spoke with the assembled reporters about the reason for Martinez’s absence:
From GM Mike Rizzo: Dave Martinez felt chest pains and underwent a cardiac catheterization earlier today. Rizzo spoke with Martinez and said he was in good spirits. The Nationals do not have expectations for when he could return.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) September 16, 2019
Mike Rizzo said he spoke w Davey today and he was upbeat. He will return when all the blood work comes back and he’s cleared to travel.
— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) September 16, 2019
Davey Martinez had chest pains during yesterday’s game. Underwent what Mike Rizzo termed a “little minor procedure” today called cardiac catheterization. The procedure went well, Rizzo spoke to him afterward and said he was “upbeat.” Martinez will remain in DC for now.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) September 16, 2019
Here’s a quick Googled definition of the “cardiac catheterization” procedure via the Mayo Clinic:
Cardiac catheterization (kath-uh-tur-ih-ZAY-shun) is a procedure used to diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular conditions. During cardiac catheterization, a long thin tube called a catheter is inserted in an artery or vein in your groin, neck or arm and threaded through your blood vessels to your heart.
Using this catheter, doctors can then do diagnostic tests as part of a cardiac catheterization. Some heart disease treatments, such as coronary angioplasty and coronary stenting, also are done using cardiac catheterization.
Usually, you’ll be awake during cardiac catheterization but be given medications to help you relax. Recovery time for a cardiac catheterization is quick, and there’s a low risk of complications.
More information when it’s available...