The 38-year-old with no underlying conditions
said it was important to share his story to emphasize the
potential impact of the virus. Hottovy said he isolated himself
from his wife and two children for a month.
"I went through some really weird stages through this whole
process, like depression, thinking: ‘Did I do something wrong?
How could I put my family in that kind of situation?'" Hottovy
said on a Zoom call with reporters.
Hottovy said he lost 18 pounds during the ordeal and that his
strength is at about 80 percent, though he intends to stay on as
pitching coach.
"My journey through this virus was not like ones you hear of
younger people who are asymptomatic or only have it for a few
days. I got crushed. I did have to go the hospital for a little
bit of time to get checked and do all the breathing treatments,"
Hottovy said during a radio interview on 670-AM in Chicago.
"The problem was ... on Day 8 through 14, it crushed me,"
Hottovy said. "It got into my lungs. I got the full what they
call the COVID pneumonia, a viral pneumonia, shortness of
breath, really trouble breathing, constant fevers."
Hottovy said he believes the plan to play again is important but
that it's important that teams, players and staff adhere to the
protocols
"One little misstep or little contact situation by one person
can derail an entire industry," Hottovy said on the Zoom call.
"I'm not saying that to be extreme, but you get my point that we
can do everything we can, as an organization, to make sure we
have protocols in place and things set up."
--Field Level Media
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