Sapp hospitalized with meningitis

HOUSTON -- Catcher Max Sapp, the Astros' first-round pick in the 2006 Draft, has been hospitalized in Orlando, Fla., with meningitis, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle.

Sapp, 20, has been in the hospital for more than two weeks, assistant general manager Ricky Bennett told the paper on Tuesday. He has been breathing with the help of a respirator after undergoing surgery to repair a severe sinus infection and contracting meningitis. According to the report, Sapp has been unable to breathe on his own because of occasional seizures.

"We've been getting daily updates from his mother, Missy," Bennett said. "He'll have his good days and his bad days. He's not out of the woods yet. He's still on a respirator and they're filling him with antibiotics."

Sapp, the 23rd overall pick in '06, has struggled in his career. He has a .224 average with seven homers and 81 RBIs over three seasons. He spent the last two seasons at Class A Salem, compiling a .200 average with four homers in 2008.

The report indicated Bennett is not sure how the illness will affect Sapp next season.

"We're just worried about him getting out of the hospital and off the respirator," Bennett told the paper. "It's going to take him time to gain his strength and get back to baseball activity. The doctors said because he was in such good condition it helped fight the infection and may have saved his life."