Jaramillo has prostate cancer

02/18/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo met with two groups of players Saturday morning, first the pitchers in the clubhouse and then with his hitters in the batting cage.
The message delivered was that he has prostate cancer, but he is not going to let it slow him down or get in the way of what the Rangers are trying to do this season.
"I just told them that I want to get it out of the way and not be a distraction to them," Jaramillo said. "There are a lot of things we want to get accomplished as a team. I love these kids, so I told them what happened; now it's time to move on."
Jaramillo was diagnosed with cancer three weeks ago in Dallas, but he is still in camp working with his hitters as he has always done. Jaramillo will continue to do so until sometime in mid-March, when he will go back to Dallas and undergo surgery to remove the tumor.
He is hoping to be back with the Rangers by Opening Day on April 3, when they play the Boston Red Sox at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.
"I just want to get it done and move on," Jaramillo said. "I'm not concerned about it because I feel my faith is strong. That's the main thing.
"Mentally this will just make me stronger for baseball. This is my passion and I want to do as much as I can for these guys. You want to be patient, but I'm going to be even more driven."
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 234,460 men, mostly over 50 years old, will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and one in six die from it. But early detection usually leads to complete recovery. Jaramillo said he has had prostate problems in the past, so he made it a point of getting tested every six months. In doing so, the doctors have told him that the cancer is in the early stages and full recovery is expected.
A number of prominent sports figures have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the past, including Yankees manager Joe Torre in 1999 and Cubs manager Dusty Baker in 2001. Both underwent surgery and have not had a problem since.
Jaramillo is hoping to miss no more than 7-10 days after the surgery.
"From talking to the doctor, I think the down time is all up to the individual," Jaramillo said. "We're all so active in baseball; I think that all works in my favor. I won't be down too long, but you've got to be smart about it. I'll let my body tell me."
Said manager Buck Showalter: "You know him ... for him, it's like going to have his tooth pulled."
The Rangers would like for Jaramillo to have surgery as soon as possible, but no date has been set. When Jaramillo does leave, Minor League hitting instructor Brook Jacoby will fill in for him.
"All of our heads are in one place right now, and that's making sure Rudy gets the care he needs," general manager Jon Daniels said. "That's our top priority."
Jaramillo has been the Texas hitting coach since 1995, and he is considered among the best in his profession. He signed a three-year contract before last season that made him one of the highest paid coaches in baseball.
Outfielder Juan Gonzalez, catcher Ivan Rodriguez and shortstop Alex Rodriguez have all won American League Most Valuable Player awards as Rangers during Jaramillo's tenure as hitting coach, and Michael Young also won a batting championship last year.
"Since I signed and started playing baseball, nobody has meant more to me than Rudy Jaramillo," Young said. "It's definitely disheartening news -- we're all concerned for Rudy and his family. But knowing Rudy, nobody is going to come back stronger and better from this than him."
Jaramillo plans it that way. Veteran Rangers scout Mel Didier had prostate cancer years ago and experienced full recovery. Jaramillo talked with him about it, but only briefly.
"I'm not analyzing it," Jaramillo said. "Get it done and go."

Source: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/