Reds manager Dusty Baker returns to dugout Monday vs. Cards

St. Louis, MO, United States (NewsBahn) – The Cincinnati Reds breathed a collective sigh of relief Sunday when the team learned manager Dusty Baker will return to the dugout Monday when they take on the St. Louis Cardinals.

Baker missed 11 games due to a minor stroke and irregular heartbeat.

“Dusty is doing well. He sends his best,” Speier said, according to mlb.com. “I think everybody has to understand I’m following suit here. It hasn’t been easy to take over something when the mainstay of this organization is going through what he went through. There’s a definite cloud over it because we’re worried about him. We’re really, really happy he will be in St. Louis tonight.”

Pitcher Bronson Arroyo, who will make the start Monday when Baker returns, was pleased his skipper is healthy enough to return.

“It’s always nice to have the captain of the ship around,” Arroyo said. “Any way you cut it, if you’re missing a 25th man on the team, it’s much easier to not notice that than to miss your manager. He’s the guy that brings a lot to the table. He’s a head figure you want to be there to kind of represent the ballclub.”

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