Former World Series closer Bobby Jenks battling stomach cancer

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Bobby Jenks always has been a bigger than life character, both physically and as a Major League Baseball presence over seven seasons.

Babe Ruthian, with a better fastball.

His first pitch thrown as a rookie with the 2005 White Sox registered 102 mph on the stadium scoreboard at what is now known as Rate Field, drawing audible gasps from the crowd. His last pitch in 2005 induced a World Series sweep-ending groundout from Houston’s Orlando Palmeiro, setting off celebrations and tears of joy across White Sox nation.

But those baseball battles pale in comparison to what the 43-year-old former White Sox closer is going through presently. Jenks is being treated for Stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer. His family also is dealing with the loss of their Pacific Palisades home during the recent California fires.

During a 20-minute interview with MLB.com Saturday morning from his hospital bed in Portugal -- the family moved there to be closer to his wife’s family -- Jenks detailed these brutally tough last five months. He was stunned to hear the word “cancer,” but in an honest turn true to his nature as a player, was not completely surprised despite his always strong 275-pound stature.

“You know, the shit I was doing in my 20s and early 30s, no normal person would have survived,” said Jenks, mincing no words as is his custom. “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 percent the factor of what happened here.”

Jenks, now a married father of six, has his two younger children (11 and 5) living with him and his wife in Sintra, Portugal. He spoke Saturday of previously changing his life for the better, cutting out alcohol and drugs, and eating healthier. He recently completed his first season as manager for the Windy City Thunderbolts, an independent professional baseball squad located in Crestwood, Illinois, a southern suburb located 27 miles outside of Chicago.

After getting over the shock from the diagnosis, Jenks quickly changed his focus toward wellness.

“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.”

Health issues began for Jenks with a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf when he got to Portugal in October. That issue led to multiple blood clots in his lungs. In early January, Jenks noticed his energy dropping considerably, to the point where he had to stop and rest at the halfway point between his couch to the bathroom.

By the time he returned to the hospital for more tests, Jenks was jaundiced, his skin and eyes turning yellow. There was an infection related to that issue, but it wasn’t until Jenks had a CT scan at a different hospital that a tumor in the middle of his chest was discovered.

According to Jenks, it has spread all over his stomach lining, into his bones, into his lower back and his hips. He also dealt with an instance where the tumor blew up, bleeding into his stomach and causing severe digestive problems.

To get the bleeding under control, Jenks is going through a second round of 10 sessions of radiation. Friday was Day 7 and there are three more scheduled for next week. The goal is to shrink the tumor as much as possible, to dry it out, and kind of cauterize the bleeding before they discuss a next step. Being on blood thinners since October because of the pulmonary embolisms in his lungs, the bleeding could start again from anywhere.

“It’s awful to think about,” Jenks said. “It’s just been a whirlwind.”

Compounding matters is the recent loss of everything in the Palisades fire, including all of Jenks’ personal baseball memorabilia. The lone item remaining is his World Series ring, which he had with him while managing Windy City.

“I’ve got one suitcase left to my name,” Jenks said. “It’s all gone. Everything else I’ve ever done. I have everything, first to first. All those things are irreplaceable.”

Jenks has set a goal to get back and again manage Windy City in ‘25, thinking he built a pretty good team for this year. He also would love to be part of the 20-year World Series reunion at Rate Field on the weekend of July 11.

Although he has kept quiet about his condition, Jenks recently started sharing his situation with close friends and family. He wants to get the news out at this point.

“I want them to know I’m doing well and send their prayers and go down to Windy City and root for those boys,” Jenks said. “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. Be more careful and be conscious of where they are getting their information, as well.”

The wry writ often flashed by Jenks while he was amassing 173 saves for the White Sox and retiring 41 consecutive batters during the 2007 season is still present. Even in clearly the toughest of times, he’s fighting his way through.

“Momma didn’t raise no Cubs fan here,” Jenks said with a laugh. “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.”