Pitcher David Hess says cancer has returned

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Pitcher David Hess, whose career was previously interrupted by a cancer diagnosis, announced the disease has returned.

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Pitcher David Hess says cancer has returned Back to video

“The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind for us with this cancer journey that seems to never want to end,” he posted to social media on Friday. “We found out that inside my tumour was (a) very rare and very aggressive type of cancer called angiosarcoma. Along with that discovery, lung nodules have popped up that we aren’t sure what to make of yet.”

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Hess, 29, said he will have surgery Tuesday to biopsy the nodules and also undergo upcoming surgery to remove the tumour. He also will have chemotherapy.

“I will fight like hell and do whatever is needed for a cancer free prognosis at some point,” he wrote.

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An online fundraiser was set up Friday to help Hess and his wife, Devin, with medical expenses. The biggest contribution so far has come from Chicago White Sox reliver Liam Hendriks and his wife, Kristi. Hendriks was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma last December and is close to returning to the team.

Hess was diagnosed with a germ cell tumour, a rare form of cancer, in his chest following the 2021 season. After treatment for the cantaloupe-sized tumour, he was cleared to return to baseball in early 2022.

Hess has a career record of 6-22 with a 6.25 ERA in 62 games (34 starts) with the Baltiumore Orioles (2018-20), Miami Marlins (2021) and Tampa Bay Rays (2021).

He spent the 2022 season in the Rays’ minor league system, tallying a 2-1 record with a 13.06 ERA in 10 1/3 innings over eight relief appearances.