Former MLB pitcher and current ESPN analyst Curt Schilling announced on Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with cancer. Schilling, 46, did not specify what type of cancer he has been diagnosed with or what his prognosis is.

Last December, Schilling was named to join the crew on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. However, in light of this development, Schilling is taking an indefinite leave of absence.

Schilling pitched in the big leagues between 1988 and 2007 with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox. In 20 seasons, Schilling won 216 games, struck out 3116 batters while walking fewer than 1,000 and won three World Series rings – one with the D’Backs in 2001 and the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. He also appeared in the 1993 World Series with the Phillies and was named to six All-Star Teams (five in the NL and one in the AL). Schilling has been on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot for the past two years. After receiving 38.8% of the vote in 2013, he fell to 29.2% this year. Schilling requires 75% of the vote for admission into Cooperstown and has 13 years left on the ballot. I hope the BBWAA will induct Schilling while he is still among us.

In recent years, Schilling has had health problems. In 2011, Schilling suffered a heart attack following the failure of his business venture 38 Studios.

Schilling has campaigned for both President George W. Bush in 2004 and John McCain in 2008. After Alex Rodriguez knocked the ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS, he was asked if A-Rod’s actions were Bush league. Schilling quipped, “Not Bush league, Kerry league!”

I wish Curt Schilling and his family all the best and hope he will strikeout cancer.