Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg shared difficult news on Tuesday, revealing that the prostate cancer he battled earlier this year has returned and spread. In an Instagram post, Sandberg expressed his determination to fight the disease, stating, "Unfortunately, we recently learned the cancer has relapsed, and it has spread to other organs. This means that I’m back to more intensive treatment. We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family."

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts offered words of support, saying, "Ryne is an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere. I know all Cubs fans join my family and me in sending positive thoughts to Ryne and keeping him and his family in our prayers as he faces this next round of treatments to defeat cancer. Ryne has the heart and soul of a champion and that will serve him well in this challenge."

Sandberg, a ten-time MLB All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner, boasts a career batting average of .285 with 282 home runs, 1,061 RBIs, and 344 stolen bases. He began his major league career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 before being traded to the Cubs in 1982, where he became a cornerstone of the team. He was the National League MVP in 1984 and inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.

This summer, the Cubs honored Sandberg with a statue outside Wrigley Field, depicting him in his signature fielding stance. The statue joins those of other Cubs Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Ernie Banks.