The weekend is over, which means it’s time for the White Sox’s first full-squad workout on Monday. Before we welcome the remaining position players to Camelback Ranch, here are a few storylines worth catching up on.
Bobby Jenks being treated for Stage 4 stomach cancer
Former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks is being treated for Stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer. The unfortunate announcement came in an article by MLB.com’s Scott Merkin on Saturday, to which the team responded directly on social media.
Jenks is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Portugal, where he resides after moving to be closer to his wife’s family. According to Merkin, Jenks dealt with a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in his right calf upon first arriving in October. It was just the beginning of his health issues, as he suffered additional blood clots in his lungs and eventually a noticeable loss of energy in daily tasks last month. After undergoing tests and having a CT scan done, a tumor in the middle of his chest was discovered.
The 2005 World Series champ told Merkin that the cancer has spread “all over his stomach lining, into his bones, into his lower back and his hips.” He is also dealing with bleeding in his stomach after the tumor ruptured, causing severe digestive problems. To combat this, Jenks is going through a second round of radiation, with the final three sessions planned for next week. The goal is to shrink the tumor and get the bleeding under control, though Jenks is on blood thinners because of the clots in his lungs, making this much more difficult and unpredictable.
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Luis Robert Jr. among the early arrivals at camp
Much to the excitement of manager Will Venable, Luis Robert Jr. was one of several position players to arrive in Glendale early.
“He’s doing great,” Venable told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. “He looks great; he’s in great shape. Great spirits. So it’s really good to see him, and I’m excited to watch him do his thing out on the field.’’
Other position players who have made their presence felt already include Andrew Benintendi, Joey Gallo, Miguel Vargas, Bryan Ramos, Brooks Baldwin, Josh Rojas, Oscar Colas, Tim Elko, and Jacob Gonzalez.
Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith throw Sunday sessions
The White Sox’s top left-handed pitching prospects threw live batting practice on Sunday, which media members flocked to on the back fields. Here’s what was posted from the sessions:
Grady Sizemore comments on his new role as offensive coordinator
Former White Sox skipper Grady Sizemore spoke with MLB.com’s Scott Merkin and reflected on his new role as the team’s offensive coordinator.
“This is open for me to kind of create opportunities where I see,” Sizemore said. “It’s giving me some freedom to kind of just build off what I did last year, add a little bit more, and have a little bit more voice in how we do things, and how we want to attack and put our guys in the best position.”
“We’re going to lean on him to where maybe it won’t just be offensive stuff. He’s just so knowledgeable about the game,” White Sox manager Will Venable said of Sizemore. “He’s going to be a real resource.”
To read Merkin’s full story on Sizemore, click here.
Miguel Vargas added 20 pounds during the offseason
White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas put in the work this offseason.
The former Los Angeles Dodger told Chuck Garfien that he added 20 pounds over the winter months.
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Featured Photo: Glendale Daily Planet
