Blue Jays great Tony Fernandez released from hospital

Former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Tony Fernandez announced via Twitter Monday that he’s been released from a hospital in Florida.

The 55-year-old had been hospitalized for about a week due to Polycystic Kidney Disease — a genetic disorder which can cause severe symptoms including severe headaches, blood in the urine, speech loss or impediment and kidney failure, among others.

“Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys, causing your kidneys to enlarge and lose function over time,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

After a week-long battle against intense PKD symptoms, Fernandez put out a series of tweets thanking the masses for his support and delivering the good news that he would make it home to his family for Christmas Day.

“I thank all the people who prayed for me. We are sure that God listened to you, as well as the people who took time to text me … I have already been descharged and I’ll spend Christmas with my family. The love expressed from all of you made me happy. Being called your ‘favorite player’ means a lot,” Fernandez wrote, followed by several more tweets thanking individuals and organizations across the continent.

Fernandez, who is enshrined on the Blue Jays Wall of Excellence at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, is the club’s all-time leader in WAR among position players (37.4), games played (1450), hits (1583) and defensive WAR (11.9).

Fernandez has had an even bigger off the field since his retirement than he did on the field during his illustrious playing career, creating and being tirelessly dedicated to his charity for underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic — the Tony Fernandez Foundation.