Cleveland Guardians public address announcer Bob Tayek will step away for at least the first half of the season as he recovers from “recent health challenges.”

CLEVELAND — The long-time voice of the Cleveland Guardians inside Progressive Field, Bob Tayek, will step away from the team for at least the first half of the season as he “focuses on recent health challenges,” the team announced Saturday.

Tayek is expected to return for his 27th season as the Guardians’ public address announcer “once he is back on his feet,” according to a statement from the Guardians. 

“Tayek has been a fixture at Progressive Field since the late 1990s, becoming synonymous with the gameday experience for multiple generations of Guardians fans,” the team said. “The organization looks forward to the day Bob’s familiar voice once again echoes throughout the ballpark.”

The club shared the news a day after Cleveland’s home opener, for which Tayek was absent.

While Tayek recovers from the unspecified health challenges, the organization plans to use a team of interim public address announcers who will “maintain the high standard fans have come to expect at Progressive Field,” the Guardians said.

After a 4-1 win in Friday’s home opener, the Guardians are set to host the Cubs for the second game of the series on Saturday at 7 p.m.