Hall of Famer and Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg?said Monday that he has begun treatment for metastatic prostate cancer.

¡°I am surrounded by my loving wife Margaret, our incredibly supportive family, the best medical care team and our dear friends,¡± Sandberg said in a statement released by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. ¡°We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time for me and my family.¡±

Sandberg, 64, received the diagnosis last month. According to the American Cancer Society, metastatic cancer is a cancer that has spread from its primary site to other parts of the body.

The Cubs plan to unveil a statue of Sandberg alongside the franchise¡¯s other greats outside Wrigley Field in 2024, a long-awaited honor for the former second baseman who won the 1984 National League MVP Award, was a 10-time NL All-Star and was inducted into Cooperstown in 2005.

¡°Part of what made Ryne a tremendous talent on the field was his quiet intensity, and we have no doubt he¡¯ll bring the same tenacity to this fight,¡± said Jane Forbes Clark, the Chairman of the Board for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. ¡°During this difficult time, we join Cubs fans in Chicago, and baseball fans everywhere, in sending love and support to Ryne and Margaret and the entire Sandberg family.¡±

In a statement, the Cubs said: ¡°Ryne, we¡¯re sending love, strength and support your way. With locked arms, we are rallying around you and your family on the journey ahead to conquer this battle.¡±

Sandberg was drafted by the Phillies in the 20th round in 1978 but made his mark after being traded to Chicago in 1982. He batted .271 while playing 156 games that year, then won the first of his nine Gold Glove Awards the following season before putting it all together in ¡®84, when Sandberg posted an .887 OPS, led the Majors with 19 triples, hit 19 home runs with 32 stolen bases and won a Gold Glove Award, a Silver Slugger Award and league MVP honors.

In ¡®85, he topped 50 stolen bases. In ¡®90, he led the NL with 40 home runs. Given all he did with his glove, his legs and his bat, Sandberg said it was hard to envision what pose the statue maker would choose for his bronze likeness outside Wrigley.

"That might be hard," Sandberg said after the Cubs announced he would be honored with the statue. "Because I was all about equal offense and defense. Equally. That was my goal -- both. To be the best at offense and defense, so I don't know if I'll be able to pick a pose. But, it'll get done. It's supposed to be a fun process."