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Athletics minor-league coach on ventilator after testing positive for coronavirus

Webster Garrison, a long-time coach in the Oakland Athletics minor-league system, is on a ventilator battling the coronavirus, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.

Garrison, 54, is currently hospitalized in his home state of Louisiana.

The belief is Garrison was exposed to the virus after the A's closed down their minor-league complex in Arizona on March 13. As a precaution, all players and minor-league personnel who were in contact with Garrison were immediately informed upon his diagnosis. Those individuals were advised to remain quarantined through Friday, March 27.

According to Slusser, Garrison’s fiancee, Nikki Trudeaux, revealed she also tested positive for COVID-19. She remains in quarantine and is asking for prayers. “The love of my life is on a ventilator in the hospital, fighting for his life, and I can’t even be at his side!” Trudeaux wrote in a heart-wrenching post shared by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The A’s issued a statement on Saturday confirming Garrison’s diagnosis.

“We want to extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to our colleague for a speedy recovery,” the statement read. “We are committed to providing him and his family with support and care. Every person on our team plays a critical role to our success and we look forward to his return to the field.”

Seth Frankoff, a former pitcher for Garrison, passed along well wishes on Twitter.

Garrison has been coaching in the A's organization since 1999. He served as manager of the Stockton Ports, the A’s Class A California League affiliate in 2019. He was set to manage one of Oakland's rookie-league teams in 2020.

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