The New York Mets had some bad news to share a week ago.
Wayne Kirby, their first base coach, had to undergo emergency prostate cancer surgery.
The news went from bad to excellent in a matter of a week, as the coach is already in a Mets uniform and ready to return to game action.
“Beloved #Mets first base coach Wayne Kirby, who underwent prostate surgery a week ago, is on the field and expected to be back in the coach’s box tonight,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted on Wednesday.
Beloved #Mets first base coach Wayne Kirby, who underwent prostate surgery a week ago, is on the field and expected to be back in the coach's box tonight.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 27, 2022
That’s the news that not only Mets fans, but also the baseball universe as a whole, wanted to learn.
Each time an athlete, or a person in general, overcomes adversity, it should be reason to celebrate, especially when the adversity is something as bad as cancer.
One Of The Toughest People In Baseball
Kirby is so tough and strong-minded that immediately after his surgery, he already was in great spirits.
“Pretty awesome surgery,” Kirby texted Jon Heyman of the New York Post from the hospital a week ago.
“I’m walking the halls of the hospital and feeling good.”
Just a few days after that exchange, Kirby is already in the coaches’ box, ready to return to active duty against the New York Yankees in the Subway Series, no less.
Per Heyman, “the cancer was found during the routine spring screenings, and Kirby originally wanted to delay his surgery until the end of the season but was advised to get it done now, including by manager Buck Showalter and others around the team. So he relented.”
It’s great to see him back on the field to help the NL East-leading Mets.
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