Indians' Francona stepping away to focus on health

Cleveland Indians skipper Terry Francona will step away from his managerial duties for the remainder of the season to focus on his health, the club announced Thursday.

Bench coach DeMarlo Hale will take over Francona's role during his absence.

The 62-year-old Francona is expected to have surgery on his toe and hip, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The manager missed a good portion of the 2020 season due to gastrointestinal trouble and blood-clotting issues.

Francona, a two-time World Series champion, has won 1,753 career games with the Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. He's spent the last nine years with Cleveland, collecting 723 wins.