Athletics’ Garrison removed from ventilator in COVID-19 battle

Oakland Athletics minor league manager Webster Garrison is no longer using a ventilator to breathe in his battle with the coronavirus in a Louisiana hospital, his fiancee, Nikki Trudeaux, said Thursday.

Trudeaux said the 54-year-old Garrison was taken off the ventilator on Wednesday after requiring it for 22 days.

“Webster Garrison is off the ventilator,” Trudeaux wrote. “He is still weak and can’t say words. He’s mumbling a little bit. That’s expected with that tube down his throat for that length of time and also being on all those sedatives so long. However, being on a ventilator for three weeks and one day, he is now breathing 100% on his own and his oxygen saturation level is at 100%.”

She later added, “Blessed for today’s victory with Webster Garrison being off the vent, but he is not out of the woods!! So please continue to pray for him! This is a very difficult transition for him. … #WebbyStrong”

Garrison was diagnosed with COVID-19 last month, but the Athletics initially didn’t reveal his identity while announcing a minor league staffer had tested positive.

Oakland broadcaster and former pitcher Dallas Braden was relieved to hear the news in comments he made to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“I love the man, he is wonderful,” said Braden, who was at Double-A Midland for parts of the 2005-07 seasons when Garrison was the team’s hitting coach. “You know Webby would always do whatever it takes for his players and do it with the biggest smile and deepest belly laugh. Some people make you want to go to work every day, and Webby is that guy.

“The first thing I do every day is check Nikki’s Twitter feed and I’ve been watching his progress, breathing 60% on his own, 80%. Today I was like, ‘Yes, yes, yes, yes!’ I know he’s going to pull through this. We know how utterly blessed we will be when he has recovered.”

Garrison served as manager of the Class-A Stockton Ports last season. He is expected to lead one of the Athletics’ Arizona rookie-level teams this season.

Garrison played five games for Oakland in 1996 and went hitless in nine at-bats with one walk. He became a coach at Oakland’s minor league level in 1999 and is entering his 22nd season with the organization.