Former MLB closer and World Series champion Bobby Jenks announced on Saturday that he is battling stomach cancer.
Jenks, 43, shared his current status from a hospital bed in Portugal in an interview with MLB.com on Saturday morning.
“You know, I was in my 20s and early 30s, and the average person probably didn't survive,” Jenks said. I spoke to MLB.com. “So, in a way, I'm grateful to be alive. In another way, I'm not surprised that this happened. I don't have to nutrition, exercise, and have good plans for each day and take care of myself. It shows that it won't be possible.”
Jenks added: Unfortunately, in my 20s, that was the last thing in my mind and I was worried about what was going on. I'm not saying that it's 100% of what happened here. ”
The 43-year-old spent most of his seven-year MLB career with the White Sox, and was a member of the 2005 World Series Championship team.
The two-time All-Star ended his career with 173 saves, the second-most in White Sox history. He also retired from 41 consecutive batters in 2007, setting a rescuer record.
Jenks has started coaching since retiring from MLB in 2011 and is now manager of the Frontier League Windy City Thunderbolt.
Jenks said he wants to recover enough to return to the second season of Thunderbolt management.
“It's time to do what I have to do and make myself better and get more time, and I want to see it,” Jenks told MLB.com. “I'll tell you one thing. I'm not going to die here in Portugal.”
Jenks and his family recently moved to Portugal to get closer to his wife's family.
Mission Hills, California, said he lost almost all of the Palisade fires to add to his pain.
