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Who was Bobby Jenks? Inside the life, career, net worth, family, and tragic death of the former White Sox World Series champion.
Former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks has died in Sintra, Portugal, after a year‑long battle with adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer.
The club confirmed the news on Saturday, saying the two‑time All‑Star passed away on 4 July while undergoing treatment.
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According to ESPN, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf hailed him as “an iconic member of the organisation” whose ninth inning in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series “will forever hold a special place in all our hearts”. Jenks was 44.
In this article, Pulse Sports details some key facts about the legendary White Sox closer.
Who was Bobby Jenks?
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Born Robert Scott Jenks on 14 March 1981, Bobby Jenks rose from a difficult childhood and academic struggles to carve out a remarkable career in Major League Baseball.
He was largely self-taught after failing to make his high school team due to poor grades, Jenks found his break in American Legion Baseball, where his powerful pitching quickly drew national attention.
Jenks was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2000, and eventually claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox in 2005, a move that changed the course of both his life and the team’s fortunes.
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That same year, Jenks cemented his place in baseball history by helping secure the White Sox’s first World Series title in 88 years.
Known for his 100+ mph fastball, he recorded the final outs of Game 4, earning instant legend status in Chicago.
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Despite a career later cut short by injuries and spinal surgery, Bobby Jenks remained a dedicated figure in baseball.
He transitioned into coaching and managing, earning accolades in the minor leagues, including a championship title and Manager of the Year award with the Grand Junction Rockies.
Bobby Jenks death
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Bobby Jenks’ untimely passing at the age of 44 was the result of a deeply personal and courageous struggle against adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer he had been quietly battling for the past year.
Jenks had sought treatment in Sintra, Portugal, alongside his wife and close family, after relocating there in 2023, following the devastation of their Pacific Palisades home by wildfires.
Despite his private nature, his family confirmed he succumbed to the illness on 4 July 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
Bobby Jenks early years and education
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Born in Mission Hills, California, on 14 March 1981, Robert Scott Jenks attended Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, Washington, but academic struggles kept him off the school team.
Instead, Jenks dominated American Legion baseball, striking out 123 batters in 92 innings—a raw talent the Angels could not ignore.
Bobby Jenks career
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Drafted by the Anaheim Angels in 2000, the 6 ft 4 in, 275 lb right‑hander debuted for Chicago in July 2005.
Within three months Bobby Jenks was throwing 102 mph heaters and recording the final outs that ended the club’s 88‑year title drought.
Jenks saved 173 games: the second‑most in franchise history, and earned consecutive All‑Star nods in 2006 and 2007.
Spinal‑fusion complications curtailed his big‑league career in 2011, but he reinvented himself on the bench.
Bobby Jenks managed the Grand Junction Rockies to a Pioneer League championship in 2022 and was named Manager of the Year before taking charge of the Windy City ThunderBolts last October.
What is Bobby Jenks' Net Worth? (Bobby Jenks Net Worth 2025)
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By the time of his passing, Bobby Jenks was estimated to have a net worth of approximately around $5.1 million, as per Revista Merca.
The figure stemmed from a botched back operation that effectively ended his career.
In 2019, he settled a medical‑malpractice lawsuit for $5.1 million.
According to Sportrac, Jenks’ playing contracts totalled roughly $20 million, including a two‑year, $12 million deal with the Boston Red Sox in 2011.
Bobby Jenks family, wife and children
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According to reports, Bobby Jenks was twice married.
His first marriage to Adele Romkee produced four children—Cuma, Nolan, Rylan and Jackson.
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In 2018, he married Cypriot‑Portuguese businesswoman Eleni Tzitzivacos, with whom he had two more children, Zeno and Kate.
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The family relocated to Portugal after their Pacific Palisades home was destroyed by wildfires in 2024, allowing Jenks to be closer to his wife’s relatives during his treatment.
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