Jenks' fighting spirit resonates at Frontier League team's home opener

CRESTWOOD, Ill. -- Business went on pretty much as usual during the Windy City ThunderBolts' 2025 Frontier League home opener on Friday night at Ozinga Field.

Fans filling the stands enjoyed the in-between inning festivities, taking a break to partake in the burgers or pulled chicken sandwiches at The Grill. Kids were screaming support for the home team in their contest against the Washington Wild Things.

There was a noticeable absence, though, in manager Bobby Jenks.

Jenks remains the ThunderBolts’ manager, taking over that job prior to last year, as he continues valiantly fighting a battle against Stage 4 adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer, with his family in Portugal. His imposing-looking managerial photo was shown on the right-field scoreboard during team introductions, and he was recognized in those pregame ceremonies with a message for fans to keep Jenks in their thoughts and prayers as he watched from Portugal, and how the ThunderBolts community is pulling for him and can’t wait to see Jenks back in Crestwood.

Nothing more was really needed because Jenks’ presence was felt throughout the stadium.

“Man, he made it fun,” said pitcher Buddie Pindell, who played for Jenks in 2024. “The season didn’t go how we wanted, but it was always a fun time around him.”

“He’s fantastic,” hitting coach Kevin Santiago said of his boss. “He’s old school. He brought the competitiveness back out in me.”

Toby Hall, who played the final two seasons of a solid nine-year-career as Jenks’ teammate with the White Sox in 2007-08, has taken over as interim manager for someone he describes as one of his closest friends. Previous opportunities existed for Hall to coach or manage, but aside from serving as the bench coach on Jenks’ staff with the 2022 Grand Junction Rockies, he always picked family and being with his wife and two kids.

Those Rockies finished 62-33, won the Pioneer League championship and Jenks was named Manager of the Year. That title was a fun time for all involved.

This interim job is important to Hall, who is thoroughly enjoying life with the ThunderBolts. It’s anything but fun when Jenks’ health crisis is considered, as the upbeat Hall stopped on a few occasions during Friday’s pregame interview, almost searching for the exact right words entangled within the weight of Jenks’ situation.

“Our last full real conversation like a month ago, it was just a cry session. And then we are like, ‘We gotta go.’ But I wanted to hear what he’s going through and yeah …” said Hall, with his voice momentarily trailing off. “We are grinding through all this.”

Hall admits phone conversations with Jenks “aren’t good.” But Jenks is still checking in on the team via text, with one arriving after the Thunderbolts lost their opener at Schaumburg on Thursday to find out what happened in the contest.

The fighting spirit continues on for Jenks, a fighting spirit so many White Sox fans came to know and love beginning in ’05. This burly rookie with the 100-mph fastball -- and eventually 173 career saves -- closed out Game 4 of the World Series championship sweep.

“He goes, ‘Hey remember, there’s an ‘I’ on that,’ the interim thing,” Hall said with a smile when discussing his job. “I go, ‘Bobby, just get healthy and get back.’

“I was going to come up with Bobby [this season] and then all of this happened. So, that’s when he was like, ‘I need you to manage.’ The league called me and so it’s just unfortunate timing and our conversations about the team and all the different things, it’s just a bad situation.”

Managing became a passion for Jenks, who is highly prepared and very good at the job. In fact, Hall refers to him as one of the best managers he’s ever been around.

Pindell spoke of Jenks adding a splitter to his arsenal, a pitch Pindell never threw before 2024, showing him during a random bullpen. Now, it’s a staple in his repertoire.

Staying connected is good for the Thunderbolts -- and good for Jenks. The hope is he returns for the 2005 World Series reunion at Rate Field the weekend of July 11, returns to manage the Bolts and, most importantly, returns to good health.

“It’s an unfortunate thing,” Hall said. “You know, we are all praying for him and trying to get through all this, get through this season so he can get back and take over.

“Yeah, so ...” Hall added with another pause. “It just sucks.”