Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg announced via Instagram on Tuesday that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs, requiring “more intensive treatment.”

Sandberg, 65, was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2023, but declared himself cancer-free the following August after months of treatment. That made Tuesday’s news all the more startling.

“Unfortunately, we recently learned that the cancer has relapsed and spread to other organs,” Sandberg said in his social media statement. “That means I have to receive more intensive treatment again. We will continue to stay positive and strong and fight to overcome this. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family.”

Sandberg played with the Cubs for 16 years after being traded to Chicago by the Phillies in 1982. He won the 1984 NL MVP after batting .314 with 19 home runs and 19 triples while stealing 32 bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 after hitting 282 home runs, almost all as a second baseman.

Shortly after Sandberg announced he was cancer-free last season, the Cubs unveiled a statue of him outside Wrigley Field. He is a constant presence there and acts as an analyst and ambassador for the team.

“Ryne is an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere,” Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said in a statement. “I know that all Cubs fans join my family and I in sending positive thoughts to Ryne and keeping him and his family in our prayers as he faces the next round of treatment to fight cancer. Ryne has the heart and soul of a champion and that will be the case. I will serve him well in this challenge.