Major League Baseball

Yankees trainer Monahan to miss spring training

Published Feb. 14, 2010 10:33 a.m. ET

foxsports

Yankees trainer Gene Monahan will miss his first spring training in 48 years because of what the team called ``a significant illness.''

The team said Sunday that the longest-tenured active head trainer in the major leagues could also miss the start of the regular season. The nature of his illness was not disclosed.

The Yankees said Monahan will remain in New York to receive extensive treatment.

Steve Donohue will fill in when spring training opens this week in Tampa, Fla. He's worked the past 25 seasons as Monahan's assistant and 31 seasons overall in the Yankees organization.

The Yankees open the regular season April 4 at Boston.