Fernando Valenzuela name has become synonymous with the Los Angeles Dodgers ever since his rookie season on Opening Day in 1981 sparked a phenomenon that became known as “Fernandomania.”
Valenzuela spent 10 years with the Dodgers, winning a Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, making six All-Star Game appearances, and becoming a World Series champion, among many other accolades.
Valenzuela rejoined the Dodgers organization in 2003 as a broadcaster, where he has remained for the last 21 years. However, his 2024 season was cut short as he stepped away from the broadcast booth in the interest of focusing on his health.
The Dodgers said Valenzuela plans to return to the broadcast booth in 2025. There have been varying reports over his current condition, with the only clarity from the team that getting healthy is a priority.
Manager Dave Roberts recently did not have any new information to share, but extended his and the entire team’s well-wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
“Fernando, I don’t know his status. I know he’s ill and going through things physically. He’s in all of our thoughts and prayers,” Roberts said.
“He’s a friend of mine. I’ve kind of stood down, letting the family handle this situation. But I just pray that we get him back healthy and back in the booth. We think about him often.”
Fernando Valenzuela’s Dodgers postseason stats
Across three appearances in the postseason with the Dodgers, Valenzuela went 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 44 strikeouts in eight starts.
Five of those outings came during the Dodgers’ World Series run in 1981. He was a key contributor to their success that year and was the winning pitcher in three of his five October starts.
Valenzuela pitched two complete games during the 1981 playoffs, including in Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Yankees to help the Dodgers secure a 5-4 victory. The importance of that performance cannot be understated as it was the beginning of four straight wins for the Dodgers after losing the first two games of the World Series.
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