Baseball star Daniel Norris reveals cancer diagnosis on social media

Posted: Oct 19, 2015 / 05:20 PM EDT / Updated: Oct 19, 2015 / 05:20 PM EDT

JOHNSON CITY, TN (WJHL) – Johnson City baseball star Daniel Norris took to social media Monday to make an announcement that he has cancer and will be undergoing surgery to remove what is believed to be a malignant growth on his thyroid.

According to a post on Norris’ Instagram via his verified Twitter account Monday, he confirmed he would soon be having surgery.

The following is the full statement from Norris’ social media 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, who spent most of his summer playing AAA ball in Buffalo, N.Y., plays for the Detroit Tigers after being traded from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 30.

PHOTO GALLERY: DANIEL NORRIS

News Channel 11 reached out to Norris to ask about the Instagram post and he said he would rather not comment.

Ron Colangelo, vice president of communications for the Detroit Tigers, responded to our request for a comment on Norris’ announcement Monday, saying “Appreciate all the outpouring support for @DanielNorris. Our prayers are with him.”