Bobby Jenks, a former pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and World Series winner, has succumbed to stomach cancer. He was 44 years old.
The White Sox reported via social media that Jenks, a father of six, passed away on Friday, July 4, in Sintra, Portugal, where he had relocated to be nearer to his wife’s family after the destruction of their Pacific Palisades home in the California wildfires.
His demise occurs five months subsequent to Jenks disclosing his diagnosis of stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a form of gastric cancer.
“Bobby will eternally occupy a unique position in our hearts 🤍,” the White Sox account on X said with a tribute video of Jenks. A.J. Pierzynski, a fellow White Sox alumnus and catcher, honored his old buddy by stating on X, “Bobby, you will be missed.” Condolences to his family. Large individual with a generous disposition.
Pierzynski concluded his message with, “#2005forever 💔,” alluding to their victory in the MLB World Series in 2005.
In a February interview with MLB.com from his hospital bed in Portugal, the former MLB All-Star addressed his cancer diagnosis.
“The activities I engaged in during my 20s and early 30s were such that no ordinary individual would have endured.” “In a sense, I am thankful to be alive,” Jenks said. “Conversely, I am not astonished that this occurred.”
“This illustrates the necessity of comprehensive self-care through nutrition, exercise, and a well-structured daily regimen,” he concluded.
“I am not suggesting you transform into a Greek deity, but you must be mindful of your dietary choices,” he continued. “Regrettably, during my twenties, I was least concerned about what was occurring internally.” I am not asserting that this is unequivocally the only cause in the occurrence here.
MLB.com emphasized Jenks’ remarkable rookie season in 2005, noting that his first pitch for the White Sox “registered 102 mph on the stadium scoreboard,” while his last pitch that season “induced a World Series sweep-ending groundout, triggering celebrations and tears of joy throughout White Sox nation.”
Jenks, a two-time All-Star, participated in Major League Baseball from 2005 to 2011, concluding his professional career with the Boston Red Sox.
