Former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks announced on Saturday that he has Stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer.
Jenks, 43, announced his condition in an interview with MLB.com from a hospital bed in Portugal, where he moved to be closer to his wife’s family.
Jenks pitched seven MLB seasons, six of them with the White Sox. He won a World Series with Chicago as a rookie reliever and part-time closer in 2005. He worked as Chicago’s primary closer for the next five seasons and was named an All-Star in 2006 and 2007. Jenks played his final MLB season with the Boston Red Sox in 2011.
Jenks did not discuss a prognosis with MLB.com
“Now it’s time to do what I got to do to get myself better and get myself more time, however you want to look at it,” Jenks said. “I’ll tell you one thing: I’m not going to die here in Portugal.
“They are not going to put any numbers on it. I wouldn’t even want numbers. You hear stories all the time, ‘Oh, they gave me six months, 25 years ago.’ I don’t buy into that. Whatever happens is going to happen regardless.”
Jenks is a father of six and has children aged 11 and 5 who live with him and his wife, Sintra, in Portugal. Per MLB.com, he spoke of previously working to improve his lifestyle, including cutting out drugs and alcohol and eating healthier. He cited his previous lifestyle as playing a factor in his diagnosis.
“You know, the s*** I was doing in my 20s and early 30s, no normal person would have survived,” Jenks said, per MLB.com. “So, in one way, I’m grateful to be alive. In another way, I’m not surprised this happened. It goes to show you have to take care of yourself from top to bottom with nutrition and exercise and having a good daily plan.
“I’m not saying you need to turn yourself into a Greek god, but you need to watch what you put into your body. Unfortunately, in my 20s, it was the last thing on my mind, being worried about what was going in. I’m not saying that’s 100% the factor of what happened here.”
The White Sox posted a message in support of Jenks on Instagram on Saturday.
“We stand with you, Bobby Jenks,” the White Sox message reads.
Jenks is hoping to recover and return to his second season as a manager of the minor league Windy City Thunderbolts in Crestwood, Illinois. Per MLB.com, Jenks also hopes to be able to attend the 20th reunion for the 2005 World Series team in Chicago on July 11.
Source link
