The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Fernando Valenzuela, a franchise icon since taking the baseball world by storm with his legendary 1981 rookie season, has stepped away from his role as a Spanish-language radio broadcaster for the remainder of the postseason «to focus on his health.» The club added Valenzuela «aims to return for the 2025 season.» Valenzuela, 63, has been part of the Dodgers' broadcast team since 2003, which was six years after his playing days had ended and 14 years after he threw his last pitch for the Dodgers.
The Mexican left-hander made his major league debut as a 19-year-old reliever in 1980 before bursting onto the scene with a historic strike-shortened 1981 season.
Valenzuela began the year as the Dodgers' emergency Opening Day starter and ended it as the National League Cy Young Award winner and NL Rookie of the Year for the eventual World Series champions.
Valenzuela finished the 1981 season with a 13-7 record, 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games and 8 shutouts. He led the National League with 192⅓ innings pitched and topped the majors with 180 strikeouts.