Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez diagnosed with cancer, stepping down from booth

Buck Martinez, a broadcaster covering the Toronto Blue Jays, will be stepping away from the booth to take care of his health after his recent cancer diagnosis.

Following a recent cancer diagnosis, Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez will be stepping away from the booth so that he can focus on receiving treatments and so that he can take care of his health.

The news was shared on Twitter by @SportsnetPR, the public relations branch of Sportsnet. In the tweet, @SportsnetPR shared a statement from Martinez. According to the statement, Sunday’s game between the Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics will be Martinez’ “last game in the booth for a little while” because of the cancer diagnosis.

As Martinez shared in his statement, he is “honoured and privileged to have the support of Blue Jays fans, colleagues, staff and players” and he has had this support from them since he “arrived [in Toronto] in 1981.”

According to Martinez, the support as he faces “this next challenge means the world to [him].”

Toronto Blue Jays: Buck Martinez diagnosed with cancer, will step down from booth

Martinez did mention that he is “grateful for a tremendous medical team” and that he is optimistic about his fight with cancer.

“I hope to rejoin my Sportsnet teammates for the stretch run later this season, but in the meantime I will watch from the sidelines as I fight the good fight,” Martinez wrote.

Martinez also mentioned that he is grateful for those who are respecting his privacy as he deals with this.

Unsurprisingly, the Blue Jays are rallying around Martinez and have made a statement of support for him following his announcement.