Texas Rangers' Josh Smith Hospitalized for Viral Meningitis Treatment

Josh Smith warms up before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 10, 2024
Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), viral meningitis is an "inflammation (swelling) of the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord that can be caused by a viral infection."

The diagnosis comes after Smith was put on the 10-day injured list with a right glute strain and wrist inflammation on Monday, May 4.

Rangers general manager Ross Fenstermaker said that the focus right now is to get Smith "healthy and right" and that they'll "reassess from a baseball perspective" once he's out of the hospital.

“We know he's getting some of the best care that he can get right now," said Fenstermaker, per MLB.com. "The doctors will advise us in terms of what activity looks like once he gets healthy, but right now it's just getting back to health and making sure he's in a good spot.”

Josh Smith at Globe Life Field on August 20, 2024 in Arlington, Texas
Credit: Sam Hodde/Getty

Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young echoed the same sentiments, expressing that the team's "only concern right now is Josh's health."

“This is obviously an unexpected illness, but we hope to see him return to full health and rejoin the club very soon," he said, per the AP.

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PEOPLE has reached out to the Texas Rangers for comment.

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