Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris has cancer

Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris has thyroid cancer and will undergo surgery to remove a tumor, the rookie southpaw announced today with an Instagram post:

I've been debating for months as to how or even if I should share this with people. - I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer. So now, I'm asking for prayers. - A few months ago, after I was optioned to AAA, I found out I had a growth on my thyroid. Flying back & forth from Toronto to Buffalo after pitching to have more and more tests done it was finally concluded that the growth is considered malignant.. Meaning it contained the C word.. cancer. Hearing this was alarming, yea. Weird, yea, that too. I was given the option to shut my year down & get it removed immediately. However, seeing another doctor that determined I could wait until the end of the season reassured my gut feeling. Just Keep Playing. Baseball kept me sane. Regardless of results on the field, I forgot about it when I was between the lines. Afterall, I was just trying to get the heck out of AAA. & I did. I was revived with an opportunity, a blessing from God, with the Tigers back in the Big Leagues. So yea, the power of prayer.. It got me through this season. Now that it's over it's time to get this thing out, so please keep me in your thoughts & prayers as I undergo surgery & come out 100% cancer free! As always,,, #justkeeplivin

A photo posted by Daniel Norris (@danielnorris18) on Oct 19, 2015 at 1:59pm PDT

Norris came to the Tigers this season in a deadline deal with the Blue Jays for left-hander David Price. Norris made eight starts with the Tigers after the trade, posting a 3.68 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 36⅔ innings. He walked just seven and struck out 27 in his work with Detroit.

According to Norris, he found out out about his condition during the season and after discussing with doctors determined he could wait until the offseason to undergo surgery and begin treatment. Additionally, the Tigers were aware of Norris' cancer when they traded for him, according to general manager Al Avila:

From #Tigers GM Al Avila: Team WAS aware Daniel Norris had cancer at time of the trade, and he is expected to be ready for spring training.

— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) October 19, 2015

For now, Norris will focus on recovering from surgery and coming out of things cancer free, but he will be working to get back on the mound as soon as he can.