What happened to Matt Williams? 3B coach reveals unfortunate diagnosis, set to step away from Padres

San Diego Padres' third-base coach, Matt Williams, has been diagnosed with colon cancer, as announced by Padres manager Bob Melvin on Wednesday. Williams, who is 57 years old, will be present at the opening day festivities ahead of the Padres' game against Colorado Rockies before undergoing surgery on Friday.

Williams discovered his condition roughly three weeks ago. He said he feels as good as he has in 20 years and has no symptoms or issues. He emphasized that it is crucial to get the growth out of his colon, and he is optimistic since the initial CT scan confirmed the cancer remained limited to the colon area.

When is Matt Williams expected to return?

Matt Williams is set to take an indefinite break as he recovers, and former St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt will take over in his absence.

Williams is a five-time All-Star and was one of the game's best third basemen during the 1990s. He began his post-playing career on the staff with the Arizona Diamondbacks team that Melvin managed from 2005 to 2009. After a two-year stint managing the Washington Nationals, Williams served as Melvin's third-base coach with the Oakland Athletics from 2018 to 2019 before joining the Padres at the beginning of the 2022 season.

Matt Williams’ return is uncertain

Melvin praised Matt Williams, calling him one of the toughest guys he has ever met in baseball. He also expressed confidence that Williams would fight hard and beat cancer, adding that the players had been fully supportive of him.

"He might be the toughest guy I've ever come across in baseball," Melvin said of Williams. "We know, I know in particular, that he's gonna give this the fiercest effort of his life, and he's going to beat it. Our players have been fully supportive of him, but it's hard, being so close to somebody and knowing that he has to deal with it. But I know he is, and I know he's gonna beat it."

Williams' diagnosis is a reminder of the importance of regular check-ups and screenings for early detection of cancer.