Colorado Rockies RHP Chad Bettis diagnosed with testicular cancer

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis has been diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery to remove one of his testicles in late November, the pitcher told ESPN on Monday night.

Bettis, 27, expects to make a complete recovery and believes he will be ready for the start of spring training in 2017.

"I was completely caught off-guard by my diagnosis but have subsequently found that the vast majority of cases occur in men 20 to 40 years of age and that the survival rate is 99 percent when contained and caught early," Bettis told ESPN.

"This only reinforces my belief that each of us needs to be totally in tune with our own physical health, and that taking action sooner than later when we feel like something is off can sometimes literally be the difference between life and death."

Bettis added that his surgeon is confident the cancer was isolated and has not spread. His ability to have children should not be affected.

The former second-round pick of the Rockies in the 2010 amateur draft is 23-19 with a 5.01 ERA and 279 strikeouts in 89 career games (60 starts) over four seasons.

In 2016, the right-hander posted a career-best 14-8 record and a 4.79 ERA while striking out a personal-best 138 batters over 32 starts.