Former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks is currently undergoing treatment for Stage 4 stomach cancer.
MLB.com reported Saturday that Jenks is hospitalized in Portugal after his family’s home in the Pacific Palisades was destroyed in the recent California fires. The 43-year-old has been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer that develops in the glandular cells lining the organs. In an interview with MLB.com, Jenks acknowledged that some of his past lifestyle choices may have contributed to his condition.
“You know, the shit I was doing in my 20s and early 30s, no normal person would have survived,” Jenks told 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.”
He continued, “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 percent the factor of what happened here.”
Jenks remains a legend on the South Side for his pivotal role in the White Sox’s 2005 World Series championship. As a rookie, he appeared in every game of the World Series, recorded two saves, and secured the final out of the clinching game. The big right-hander also set an MLB record in 2007 by retiring 41 consecutive batters. Over six seasons with Chicago, he posted a 3.53 ERA with 173 saves and 351 strikeouts.
Recently, Jenks completed his first season as the manager of the Windy City Thunderbolts, an independent Frontier League team. Now married and a father of six, he had already committed to a cleaner lifestyle, cutting out alcohol and drugs even before his diagnosis. While the initial shock of his condition was overwhelming, his focus has now shifted to fighting the disease.
“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.”
