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Fernando Valenzuela steps away from the Dodger broadcast booth for rest of the season
Former pitcher Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers gives autographs to fans before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on April 1.
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Kevork Djansezian
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Legendary Spanish-language Dodgers broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela will be stepping away from the booth for the remainder of the season to focus on his health. He's been away from the booth for the last few weeks.
Reason is unclear: The Dodgers made the announcement yesterday in a statement, but the nature of his health issues was not made clear. According to the team, "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.''
His history: The former pitcher has been a broadcaster with the team since 2003 and is a much beloved fixture on the Dodgers broadcasting team.
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Dodger legend: The former pitcher has been a broadcaster with the team since 2003 and is a beloved fixture on the Dodgers broadcasting team. Before that he was a pitcher on the Dodgers' storied 1981 World Champion team. That year he won the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. He spent 11 seasons with the Dodgers and has been calling games in Spanish for the last 21 seasons.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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