Buck Martinez stepping away from Blue Jays booth due to cancer

Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez is taking a leave of absence following Sunday's game to start treatment after being diagnosed with cancer.

"I'm grateful for a tremendous medical team, who has given me great optimism that I will come through this with flying colors. I hope to rejoin my Sportsnet teammates for the stretch run later this season, but in the meantime, I will be watching from the sidelines as I fight the good fight," Martinez said in a statement Sunday.

Martinez, 73, began his career as a color analyst for the Blue Jays in 1987 after playing for 17 seasons in the majors. He managed the club from 2001 to 2002 and then returned as a play-by-play announcer in 2010.

"On behalf of the Toronto Blue Jays organization and fans across the country, we want to extend our well-wishes to Buck and his family. We look forward to seeing him back at the ballpark and on the broadcast again soon," Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said in a press release.

Rogers Communications has yet to announce who will fill in for Martinez during his leave.