Bobby Jenks’ death has devastated his former White Sox teammates.
The 44-year-old former closer, who finished off Chicago’s 2005 World Series triumph, died Friday after a battle with adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer.
Ozzie Guillen, the manager of that ’05 White Sox team, reacted to the news on the Chicago Sports Network.
“Everybody was crushed knowing this was gonna happen,” Guillen said. “We didn’t know how soon it was gonna be, but he was in very bad shape. When I heard the news this morning it was like, wow. Everything went through my mind, from the first time I met him to the last time I played golf with him last year.”
Jenks, who had been living in Portugal to be near his wife’s family, had planned a final autograph session in March as his condition was worsening.
“Most of the players I’m talking to right now, they’re crushed,” said Guillen, noting that former outfielder Timo Perez, who began his career with the Mets, called him after receiving the news.
A.J. Pierzynski, the former White Sox catcher who jumped into Jenks’ arms after they won the World Series, said, “It’s hard to fathom that Jenks won’t be at next weekend’s celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the championship.
“It’s awful,” Pierzynski said on Chicago Sports Network. “There’s really no words to describe how sad and how destroyed you are when you think of Bobby being gone.”
The flame-throwing Jenks was a rookie when Chicago won the World Series and earned All-Star nods in 2006 and ’07. He spent six seasons with the White Sox before finishing his MLB career with the Red Sox in 2011.
He finished his career with a 3.53 ERA and 173 saves.
“Rip Big Bobby Jenks! So sad to hear this news, unreal,” White Sox legend Frank Thomas wrote on X. “Your presence and confidence was unmatched in that 2005 Clubhouse. You were a young player that competed at the highest level. Unfazed by the Big moments. God Bless your family!”
