Bobby Jenks, a former MLB All-Star closer and member of the 2005 World Series champion White Sox team, has revealed that he has a form of stomach cancer.
On Saturday, Feb. 15, the 43-year-old retired MLB player revealed his Stage 4 adenocarcinoma diagnosis in an interview with MLB.com, amid the loss of his family’s Pacific Palisades home in last month’s California wildfires.
Having revealed to the outlet that his cancer journey began shortly after his family moved to Portugal last year, Jenks admitted that he was “not surprised” by his diagnosis and said “no normal person would have survived” what he was doing in his 20s and early 30s.
“So, in one way, I’m grateful to be alive. In another way, I’m not surprised this happened,” Jenks said. “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.”
Bobby Jenks on June 29, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
L Redkoles/Getty
“I’m not saying you need to turn yourself into a Greek god, but you need to watch what you put into your body,” he continued. “Unfortunately, in my 20s, it was the last thing on my mind, being worried about what was going in,” he added. “I’m not saying that’s 100% the factor of what happened here.”
“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,” he added. “I’m not saying that’s 100% the factor of what happened here.”
As a father of six — including an 11 year old and 5 year old — Jenks told MLB.com that he has been eating healthier and steers clear of alcohol and drugs, calling it “time to do what I got to do to get myself better and get myself more time, however you want to look at it.”
“I’ll tell you one thing: I’m not going to die here in Portugal,” he said, referring to the country where he moved to be closer to his wife’s family. “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 was an American League All-Star in both 2006 and 2007, played for the White Sox from 2005 to 2010 and played his final MLB season with the Boston Red Sox in 2011.
Bobby Jenks pitches for the Boston Red Sox on June 30, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Christopher Pasatieri/Getty
When he left for Portugal in October, the former professional athlete — who currently manages the Frontier League’s Windy City Thunderbolts outside of Chicago — first experienced a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, before eventual blood clots in lungs. After his energy began to drop, the pitcher’s skin and eyes began turning yellow in January and a tumor was discovered in his chest. The tumor then spread to his stomach lining, bones, lower back and hips, he told MLB.com, and the tumor at one point blew up causing digestive problems.
“It’s awful to think about,” Jenks said of his health. “It’s just been a whirlwind.”
He spoke of wanting to reassure his friends and family that he’s “doing well” despite his health condition.
“At the end of the day I feel, just as a whole, everybody needs to be more mindful about what they put in their bodies,” Jenks told MLB.com. “Be more careful and be conscious of where they are getting their information, as well.”
He added, “My job is to do everything I can to keep myself in the best possible mental and physical state I can during the process, especially for the kids.”
Ahead of Jenks is more radiation in an attempt to shrink the tumor, as he now hopes to manage Windy City again during the 2025 season and return to Rate Field in July to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the White Sox World Series win.
Following his cancer announcement, the White Sox shared a message to X, “We stand with you, Bobby Jenks.”
According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 6 of every 10 people diagnosed with stomach cancer each year are 65 or older and it accounts for 1.5% of all new cancers diagnosed each year.
