Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis has testicular cancer and underwent surgery to have one of his testicles removed, Bettis told ESPN in a statement Monday.
Bettis had surgery in late November, and he told ESPN he expects to make a full recovery. Bettis added that he'll be ready for spring training in February.
Here was the statement he released to ESPN through his agent, Matt Sosnick:
"During an appointment in November, my doctor noticed an abnormality and ordered further tests and advanced blood work. The following Monday, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had one of my testicles removed the next day, on Tuesday, November 29.
I was completely caught off-guard by my diagnosis but have subsequently found that the vast majority of cases occur in men 20 to 40 years of age and that the survival rate is 99 percent when contained and caught early. This only reinforces my belief that each of us needs to be totally in tune with our own physical health, and that taking action sooner than later when we feel like something is off can sometimes literally be the difference between life and death.
The surgeon is very confident that the cancer was isolated and has not spread and that my ability to have children should not be affected. The Rockies and the MLBPA have been great, and I truly appreciate the care and support shown by [general manager] Jeff Bridich to both me and my family.
My understanding is that I will be physically ready to have a normal spring training, and I greatly look forward to the upcoming season. I thank my friends and family for their love and kindness and ask that privacy be shown to both my wife and myself until spring training begins."
Bettis, 27, went 14-8 with a 4.78 ERA in 186 innings last season. He figures to be a part of the Rockies' starting rotation in 2017.
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