Nic Enright, a relief pitcher for the Guardians, faced a unique pause before stepping onto the mound for his first major league game. As Comerica Park resonated with the chords of ‘God Bless America’, Enright took the opportunity for silent reflection. He had traversed a challenging path. On May 25, he made his MLB debut during a match where the Guardians suffered a 5-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Interestingly, his journey to this day had been fraught with a life-threatening obstacle – cancer, detected two and a half years earlier. However, his recent achievement hinted at his resilience and commitment to the sport.
This achievement on Sunday represented a significant milestone in Enright’s journey. He encapsulated the feeling saying, ‘Days like these justify the twisted, long path it has been.’ The act of sharing this news with his wife and parents, and witnessing their reactions, moved him deeply, turning it into a treasurable memory.
It was on the morning of December 18, 2022, when his ordeal began. Waking up to persistent pain in his neck, he decided to seek medical help. After a series of comprehensive medical tests, the doctors discovered two small lumps on his neck. The diagnosis they delivered was a devastating one – he had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer.
Enright remembers the disbelief he and his then-fiancée felt at receiving the news in the hospital room. He shared, ‘We just couldn’t believe it. I felt fine overall.’ But as they reviewed the general symptoms, they realized he exhibited many of them, ranging from eczema on the elbows to night sweats and eye abnormalities. The reality of the situation began to sink in.
In the ensuing two and a half years, Enright underwent several sessions of immunotherapy. He went through twelve batches of treatment along with regular medical examinations, blood tests, and scans. Moreover, he is due to undergo four more rounds in the coming offseason.
Throughout the extensive medical regimen and accompanying challenges, questions crept into Enright’s mind about continuing his baseball career. He confessed, ‘There were bleak days when I sought solace and strength from those around me. Doubts surfaced in between our discussions… Were we doing the right thing? Was it all worth it?’
Fighting the disease was not just a test for Enright but a distressing time for his family as well. This struggle to balance his professional aspiration and health eventually led him to his magical moment in Detroit, where he achieved his dream of playing in the major leagues.
Reflecting on his debut, Enright said, ‘Entering the field, the game paused for ‘God Bless America’, providing the perfect setting to gather my thoughts… I took in everything – the past few years, the adversities I confronted and the accomplishments of my loved ones. As the song concluded, I was ready to immerse myself in baseball.’
He delivered an impressive debut performance, securing three strikeouts in two run-free innings. This moment of triumph felt surreal to him, considering the hardships he had endured to reach this point. He mentioned, ‘To ensure it wasn’t a dream, I took some time off in the tunnel to appreciate how special the experience was.’
The event unfolded like a story straight from a fairytale. Enright was assigned jersey number 59, formerly worn by Carlos Carrasco, another major-league player who battled with leukemia. Fittingly enough, the match coincided with Detroit’s ‘Strike Out Cancer’ weekend.
For Enright, just standing on the major league field was a personal victory. Every time he walks onto the field, it carries a sense of triumph, regardless of the game’s actual outcome. ‘The trials I’ve faced these past years are a testament that while this disease is horrendous, I didn’t surrender control to it,’ stated Enright.
Now, he has a message for everyone – take your health seriously and don’t let a terrifying diagnosis define your life. He highlighted how sports is a reflection of life, noting that one doesn’t need to be a pro athlete to face adversity.
Emphasizing his stance, Enright said, ‘The crucial factor was to not let the disease control me or influence my lifestyle decisions. The same principle applies to anyone facing a similar situation – don’t let it overwhelm you or shape your entire existence.’