Colorado Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis was diagnosed with testicular cancer last month but expects to make a full recovery, .
Bettis had surgery on Nov. 29 to have a testicle removed, , but he expects to report to spring training in Arizona in February and be a part of the Rockies starting rotation next season.
“During an appointment in November, my doctor noticed an abnormality and ordered further tests and advanced blood work,” through his agent, Matt Sosnick. “The following Monday, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had one of my testicles removed the next day.”
Bettis said in the statement that he was caught off-guard by his diagnosis, but has since learned the survival rate is 99 percent when the cancer is contained and caught early.
“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,” Bettis said in a statement to ESPN.
Bettis, 27, is 23-19 with a 5.01 ERA across four seasons with the Rockies. Last year, he went 14-8 with a 4.79 ERA in 32 starts, striking out 138 and walking 59 in 186 innings.
A phone call and e-mail to Sosnick late Monday night were not immediately returned.
