Leonys Martin recovering from bacterial infection
CINCINNATI -- Leonys Martin is in stable condition and recovering at the Cleveland Clinic after contracting a bacterial infection that became life threatening within the past few days.
Given the severity of the situation over the weekend, Chris Antonetti, the Indians' president of baseball operations, was happy to have positive news to deliver to the team on Monday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. Following a closed-door meeting with Cleveland's players, Antonetti offered the first public update on Martin's condition at the urging of the outfielder's wife, Yaimira.
"We're optimistic that he'll have a full recovery," Antonetti said. "He's got a long path to get to full health in front of him. It's going to take him some time, but we're in a much better spot today than we were 24 to 36 hours ago. And I do want to make a particular point that the care that he got at the Cleveland Clinic was extraordinary.
"The team of caregivers -- from the doctors to the nurses to the specialists to everybody that facilitated his care -- was truly extraordinary. Without their Herculean effort, we may be in a different spot today than we are."
Martin -- acquired from the Tigers prior to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline -- last appeared in a game for the Indians on Tuesday against the Twins. That night, Martin became ill and alerted the team's medical staff. When his condition did not improve into the morning hours on Wednesday, the 30-year-old Martin was taken to Cleveland Clinic, where it was determined that a bacterial infection had entered his bloodstream.
According to Antonetti, the toxins subsequently produced in Martin's blood began to inflict damage on multiple internal organs. Antonetti added that the internal breakdown was "widespread," but Martin has started to regain organ function and strength over the past 24 hours.
Antonetti noted that the source of the bacterial infection -- the specific type was not disclosed -- has yet to be determined, but the feedback from doctors was that it was non-communicable.
"We don't know exactly how the bacteria entered his system," Antonetti said. "It can't be transferred from one person to the next, but the bacteria somehow entered his bloodstream. We don't yet know how. I'm not sure we will know how. But, once that bacteria entered the bloodstream, it produced toxins that led to him getting really sick."
Asked if any rooms at Progressive Field needed to be cleaned as a precautionary measure, Antonetti reiterated that this specific bacteria is not spread from person to person.
"We continue to emphasize with guys good hygiene practices," Antonetti said. "Not this particular situation, but this is why we -- staph infections, MRSA, things like that -- it's one of the reasons why we emphasize all those things that seem boring in Spring Training, but they're important."
Antonetti, who has visited Martin in the hospital, said the veteran outfielder is able to communicate and was also able to get out of bed and sit in a chair for a few hours on Sunday. At this point, Martin's recovery is the team's top priority, as opposed to his potential availability for the remainder of the season.
"We haven't really even thought about baseball yet," Antonetti said. "I don't know whether or not he'll play again this year. Our first focus is, let's make sure we get him back to full health. His wife's with him now, his dad and his brother -- they're all in town. ... I think progress will be measured in weeks, not days."
During the Tribe's weekend series in Chicago, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was among the players to write a tribute to Martin on their hats. Given the number of people who reached out to their family to check in and extend their thoughts, Martin's wife requested that Antonetti provide the medical update.
"We wanted to make sure we had the family's permission to share," Antonetti said. "Yaimira, Leonys' wife, actually encouraged me, because so many people have reached out, both in the organization and externally. ... Our players have been great throughout this process. They've reached out and let him and his wife know that they're thinking about them and lending their prayers and support."
Worth noting
• Right-hander Trevor Bauer, who was struck on the right ankle by a comebacker in Saturday's start against the White Sox, is on the mend and remains on target to start Friday's game against the Orioles. Manager Terry Francona noted that -- due to the team's off-day Thursday -- the rotation could be shuffled around some, if necessary.
"He's doing pretty good. He's still tender," Francona said prior to Monday's game against the Reds. "We're going to work on him all day today. We may send him back to Cleveland tomorrow, just to let our [medical staff] look at him. But, I think right now, he thinks he's going to make his start with no problem."
• Lefty Andrew Miller did not pitch during the weekend series in Chicago, but Francona noted that the reliever is fine. The manager said Miller was available, but the team preferred to give him a few extra days to work behind the scenes on his delivery with pitching coach Carl Willis.
"There's going to be days where we decide he'll work with Carl and we won't pitch him," Francona said. "Obviously, we're not going to announce that, because of a competitive thing, but he's available."
• Ace Corey Kluber left the team on Saturday due to feeling ill, but was back with the Indians on Monday in Cincinnati. Francona said that Kluber is doing better and is scheduled to start as planned on Tuesday against the Reds.