Bobby Jenks, a celebrated two-time All-Star closer and World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, is currently undergoing treatment for stomach cancer.
The 43-year-old athlete revealed his health struggles from a hospital in Portugal during an interview with MLB.com this past Saturday. In response, the White Sox expressed their support for Jenks through a heartfelt message on social media.
“We stand with you, Bobby Jenks,” the team stated in an Instagram post.
Despite facing such a daunting diagnosis, Jenks remains optimistic about his recovery process, with hopes of returning for a second season as the manager of the minor league team, Windy City Thunderbolts, located in Crestwood, Illinois.
“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 shared during his discussion with MLB.com. He is determined to fight through this battle, asserting, “I’ll tell you one thing: I’m not going to die here in Portugal.”
Jenks rose to prominence as a key player in the 2005 World Series, where he played an instrumental role in securing four saves out of six postseason appearances, helping the White Sox clinch the championship.
Following that successful season, he earned All-Star honors in the subsequent two years while accumulating a total of 81 saves in 2006 and 2007. His performance over the following three seasons continued to impress, averaging over 28 saves annually.
Remarkably, in 2007, Jenks achieved the feat of retiring 41 consecutive batters, which matched a record for relief pitchers. Over the span of six seasons with the White Sox, he saved a total of 173 games before making 19 appearances with the Boston Red Sox in 2011, marking the end of his illustrious career.
