Former Mets reliever Jeff Innis has been battling cancer for the past five years, and now, his family is hoping to bring him home to Atlanta to spend his final days surrounded by loved ones.
Innis’ wife Kelly Innis organized a GoFundMe on Tuesday, announcing the news that Jeff’s cancer “began rapidly spreading recently,” and his treatment at a Houston hospital is “no longer viable.” As a result, Kelly and the couple’s children, Keenan and Shannon, are working to air ambulance Jeff home to Atlanta to be in hospice care around his family.
The GoFundMe was created on Tuesday morning, with a goal of $15,000. By Tuesday afternoon, it had raised $13,620.
Innis pitched for seven seasons in the major leagues, all with the Mets from 1987-1993. Known for his sidearm delivery, the righty pitched to a 3.05 ERA and logged 192 strikeouts in 360 innings of work. In 1992, Innis made 76 appearances for New York, setting a franchise record that stood for seven years until Turk Wendell made 80 appearances in 1999. Wendell pitched to a 2.86 ERA in that 1992 campaign.
After his retirement, Innis started a pitching clinic called “Jeff Innis Pitching,” and was a frequent attendee at Mets Fantasy Camp.
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