Bobby Jenks’ death: How spine surgery error led to MLB White Sox star’s addiction to pain killers, tobacco & cancer

Bobby Jenks, 2005 World Series-winning White Sox closer, dies at 44

Bobby Jenks, a two-time MLB All-Star and key closer for the 2005 World Series-winning Chicago White Sox, died Friday in Sintra, Portugal. He was 44. Jenks had been battling adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer, after a recent diagnosis. The White Sox confirmed his passing in a statement.

Bobby Jenks: A central figure in White Sox’s historic title run

Jenks played a crucial role in Chicago’s 2005 championship, helping end the franchise’s 88-year title drought. He appeared in six postseason games that year, including closing out the series-clinching Game 4 against the Houston Astros. His impact on the field and in the clubhouse made him one of the standout personalities during that magical playoff run.vThe team had planned a 20th anniversary celebration of the 2005 title later this season, and Jenks’ passing has cast a shadow over the event.

Bobby Janks: From California to baseball glory

Born in Mission Hills, California, Jenks was drafted by the then-Anaheim Angels in 2000 and later joined the White Sox in 2005. Over six seasons with Chicago and one with Boston, Jenks compiled 173 saves, a 3.53 ERA, and a career record of 16-20. His 41 consecutive retired batters in 2007 matched a major league reliever record. He spent 2011 with the Red Sox before health issues derailed his career.

Bobby Jenks’s health decline triggered by surgery errors

Bobby Jenks’s downward health journey began in December 2011 with a routine spinal decompression at Massachusetts General Hospital. Intended to clear painful bone spurs, the surgery went awry when the surgeon, juggling two operations simultaneously, failed to remove a section of bone. That leftover bone punctured Jenks’s spinal membrane, causing a dangerous fluid leak and infection, landmarks in what he described as “everything that could have gone wrong went wrong”.

Bobby Jenks’ Untold Story: Pain, addiction, and a champion’s final fight

The damage left Jenks bedridden for months, enduring agonizing pain. To cope, he turned to prescription opioids—eventually taking up to 60 pills daily. This addiction triggered erratic behavior, including DUI arrests, self‑harm, and an intervention by concerned loved ones. He later stated, “I was there but … I wasn’t really all there,” after realising the pills controlled him .

Retirement, reckoning, and advocacy

Forced to choose between further rehab or spinal fusion surgery (which ended his playing career), Jenks opted for the procedure and stepped away from baseball. He pursued legal action and won a $5.1 M settlement, highlighting the dangers of “concurrent surgery” and raising public awareness. He later became an advocate, calling for reforms to prevent similar tragedies .

Cancer diagnosis deepens the struggle

Following his recovery and years of sobriety, Jenks and his wife moved to Portugal in 2024. Health issues re-emerged that October with blood clots in his lungs, prompting further tests. In February, doctors diagnosed stage 4 adenocarcinoma—a form of stomach cancer that had already spread to his bones and back. He entered radiation treatment, aiming to extend life for his wife and six children.

Bobby Jenks’ Wife, Family and legacy

Jenks is survived by his wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, their children Zeno and Kate, and four children from a previous marriage: Cuma, Nolan, Rylan and Jackson.

Jenks’ wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, stood by his side through his recent health battles, including his cancer treatment and relocation to Portugal. The couple built a life together with their two children, Zeno and Kate, while Jenks also remained close to his four children from a previous marriage — Cuma, Nolan, Rylan, and Jackson. Known as a devoted family man off the field, Jenks often spoke about how fatherhood gave him perspective beyond baseball. His family, now mourning his loss, was a constant source of strength during his final months.

Booby Jenks’ fight on multiple fronts

The injury that ended Jenks’s career set off a chain of health crises—surgery gone wrong, prescription addiction, and ultimately, terminal cancer. His legacy reflects not just clutch World Series moments, but also a brave, complicated fight to recover and raise awareness. 

In his final interview, Jenks reflected on his career: “You play for the love of the game, the joy of it… I was playing to be a world champion, and that’s what I wanted from the time I picked up a baseball.”

Bobby Jenks’ Health Issues: What is deep vein thrombosis and adenocarcinoma?

Jenks’ health issues began shortly after he moved to Portugal in 2024. He was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right calf, a condition where blood clots form in deep veins, often in the legs. DVT can be dangerous if untreated, as clots can travel to the lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism. In Jenks’ case, the clots spread to his lungs, which led doctors to run additional tests. That’s when they discovered he had adenocarcinoma, a common type of stomach cancer that develops in the glandular tissue lining the stomach.

Adenocarcinoma symptoms often include stomach pain, nausea, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and difficulty eating — but early signs can be subtle and are sometimes mistaken for common digestive issues. Regular screenings and early diagnosis significantly improve outcomes, though many patients, like Jenks, are diagnosed only after the cancer has advanced. Doctors recommend paying attention to persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, especially in individuals with a family history of cancer or other risk factors like smoking, chronic gastritis, or poor diet. While Jenks began radiation treatment soon after his diagnosis, the cancer had already taken a toll on his health by the time it was discovered.