Major League Baseball

Nats coach goes to hospital, heartbeat checked

Published Jul. 29, 2013 12:43 a.m. ET

foxsports

Washington Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty was taken to a hospital Sunday to treat an irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure.

The Nationals said McCatty would be kept overnight for observation. He missed Washington's 14-1 win at home over the New York Mets Sunday.

''(McCatty is) his usual grumpy self,'' Nats manager Davey Johnson said after the game. ''Blood pressure went way up and heart rate started going irregular. I know all about it.''

The 59-year-old McCatty was in the clubhouse before the game and taped a pregame interview with the club's television network. He went to the hospital between the end of batting practice and the first pitch.

A member of the Nationals' organization since 2006, McCatty took over as the big league pitching coach in June 2009. He pitched nine seasons in the majors for the Oakland Athletics between 1977 and 1985.

A Detroit native, McCatty had hoped to fly there on Sunday night on his own. Washington begins a two-game series with the Tigers on Tuesday. Instead, McCatty is expected to join the team charter on Monday, an off-day for the club.