Padres coach diagnosed with cancer just before Opening Day

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San Diego Padres third-base coach Matt Williams has been diagnosed with colon cancer, manager Bob Melvin told reporters on Wednesday.

Williams will be with the team on Opening Day on Thursday but will then take a leave of absence.

The 57-year-old received the diagnosis three weeks ago and is set to undergo surgery on Friday. His spring training physical revealed a low red blood cell count, resulting in further tests that showed a mass in his colon.

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Juan Soto #22 of the San Diego Padres reacts after his two-run home run with third base coach Matt Williams #18 during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game four of the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 22, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Mike Shildt will take his place on an interim basis while Williams' return this season has not been ruled out.

Williams joined the Padres coaching staff before the 2022 season and previously was a third-base coach under Melvin with the Oakland A's. He managed the Washington Nationals in 2014 and 2015.

He spent 17 years in the big leagues, playing for the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Third base coach Matt Williams #18 of the San Diego Padres looks on against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on August 31, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

He hit 43 homers in the strike-shortened 1994 season en route to a second-place NL MVP finish behind Jeff Bagwell. Williams also