By WFAN.com
Mets great Ron Darling says he's been diagnosed with thyroid cancer but that his prognosis is good.
"My doctors have said they are optimistic that the cancer is treatable and that I would be back on the air talking baseball in the next month or so," Darling, a Mets analyst for SNY, said in a statement. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their continued support."
Darling announced last month that he was taking a leave of absence from the broadcast booth to undergo surgery after doctors found a large mass on his chest. That procedure and further tests led to the cancer diagnosis, said Darling, 58.
Keith Hernandez, Darling's teammate in the broadcast booth as well as with the Mets, took to Twitter to say his "heart goes out to Ron Darling."
"I know that Ron will beat this insidious disease," Hernandez wrote. "I’m heartened to hear that his doctors are very optimistic for a full recovery. I will stop at my church this day and light a candle for Ron and his entire family. I look forward to RJ’s return."
My heart goes out to Ron Darling. I know that Ron will beat this insidious disease. I’m heartened to hear that his doctors are very optimistic for a full recovery. I will stop at my church this day and light a candle for Ron and his entire family. I look forward to RJ’s return
— keith Hernandez (@keithhernandez)
May 6, 2019 Darling pitched 13 years in the majors -- nine for the Mets from 1983-91. He was a member of the team's 1986 World Series-winning team and an All-Star in 1985. After leaving the Mets, he played for the Montreal Expos and Oakland Athletics.
The right-hander retired with a 136-116 record, 3.87 ERA and 1,590 strikeouts.
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