Fernando Valenzuela, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ iconic left-hander and longtime Spanish radio broadcaster, will step away from the booth for the remainder of the season “to focus on his health,” the Dodgers announced Wednesday.
“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,” the club’s statement read.
The 63-year-old is one of the most significant figures in the franchise’s — and the city of Los Angeles’ — storied history. Nicknamed “El Toro” and armed with a career-defining screwball, he took the city by storm as a rookie during “FernandoMania” by winning Rookie of the Year and a Cy Young Award for the eventual World Series champions. It was his no-hitter in 1990 that led Vin Scully to urge listeners to “throw their sombrero to the sky.” Valenzuela’s excellence invigorated a Mexican fan base that still shows up in force at Dodger Stadium to this day.
“‘FernandoMania’ wasn’t just in 1981,” Dodgers team president Stan Kasten said last year. “‘FernandoMania’ never has ended.”
The organization finally retired Valenzuela’s No. 34 on Aug. 11, 2023. The city declared it “Fernando Valenzuela Day.”
“He was our champion, nuestro campeón,” Los Angeles native and current United States Senator Alex Padilla said that day at the dais.
The six-time All-Star is in his 22nd season as part of the organization’s Spanish broadcast crew, most of which occurred alongside noted broadcaster Jaime Jarrín — who had served as an interpreter for Valenzuela during his playing days. The broadcast has continued in his absence with Pepe Yñiguez and José Mota.
(Photo of Fernando Valenzuela from 2002: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
