Davey Johnson reportedly recovering from COVID-19 scare

Former MLB manager Davey Johnson is reportedly turning the corner in his fight against COVID-19.

On Friday, the baseball world received a scare after New York Mets historian Jay Horwitz tweeted out that former manager Davey Johnson was in the hospital battling COVID-19 before returning home to rest comfortably. Five days later, we have some good news to share.

According to analyst and former Cincinnati Reds general manager Jim Bowden, Johnson has “finally turned the corner” in his battle with COVID-19 and telling Bowden the prayers sent his way “were needed and worked.”

Johnson doing well in recovery

Johnson and Bowden know each other well, based off their time with the Reds and Washington Nationals. Bowden was hired as general manager in 1992 and Johnson was hired as the team’s manager in 1993. In 2006, Johnson was hired to be Bowden’s special consultant when he was the general manager of the Nationals.

Prior to his managerial career, Johnson was known for his play as a second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles. In his eight years with the Orioles, Johnson won two World Series titles. After his playing career ended in 1978, Johnson began his transition into managing. Johnson received his first MLB managerial gig with the Mets in 1984. In his third season with the club, Johnson won his third World Series after the Mets overcame a 3-2 series deficit over the Boston Red Sox, thanks in part to the infamous Bill Buckner error.

At the conclusion of his Mets tenure, Johnson became the manager of the Reds (1993-95), Orioles (1996-97), Los Angeles Dodgers (1999-2000) and Nationals (2011-2013). Johnson was named two-time Manager of the Year (1997, 2012) and reached the League Championship Series in three consecutive years, starting with the Reds in 1995 into his two-season stint with the Orioles.