White Sox’s Liam Hendriks Slated to Make Highly-Anticipated Return on Monday
In one of the most heartfelt stories of the year, the Chicago White Sox are preparing to welcome back reliever Liam Hendriks, who hasn’t played all season while overcoming a case of stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Hendriks, who revealed his cancer diagnosis in January, announced that he finished treatment and was declared cancer-free by doctors in April. Not long after, the 34-year-old began a rehab assignment at Triple-A, clearing the way for his eventual return.
It appears that time has now arrived as the White Sox released a welcome-back video for Hendriks via social media on Sunday night, indicating he’ll be activated from the injured list prior to Monday’s contest versus the Los Angeles Angels.
The veteran righty made six rehab appearances after completing his cancer treatment, allowing six runs on seven hits – including three home runs – and one walk while striking out five across five innings. But, of course, none of those results matter.
Most recently, Hendriks tossed three batting practice sessions with the White Sox, proving his final hurdle to climb. He also threw a few bullpen sessions at the club’s spring training facility in Arizona at the beginning of his rehab process.
It will surely be a tear-jerking moment for those involved once Hendriks officially returns to Chicago’s active roster, as he has been beloved throughout the organization since arriving in 2021. So his presence will undoubtedly provide a boost to the clubhouse’s atmosphere.
The three-time All-Star should also make an on-field impact, especially considering he ranked second in saves (75) from 2021-22. It remains unknown if he’ll immediately return to his usual closer’s role or be eased back into high-leverage situations.
But considering less than five months have passed since Hendriks began cancer treatment, chances are the White Sox will choose the latter. That way, he can properly adjust to playing his first major-league game since last October.
Without Hendriks, Chicago’s bullpen has shared closing duties thus far, as Kendall Graveman and Reynaldo Lopez – each with four saves this season – have split time in the ninth inning. Joe Kelly and Keynan Middleton also have earned a save in that role.
As effective as that group has performed, though, it still hasn’t been the same since Hendriks’ sudden departure. Now that he’s beyond his health scare, the two-time AL Reliever of the Year winner can help his team try to improve from its disastrous 22-33 record.
Hendriks has been a top closer in baseball since signing a three-year, $54-million contract with the White Sox in 2021. He’s recorded a 2.66 ERA, 2.49 FIP and a 34.9 percent strikeout-to-walk rate difference over 128.2 innings during his tenure.
The native of Australia features a $15 million club option for 2024, including a $15 million buyout in his deal. So, odds are he’ll be sticking around for at least another season beyond this current one.
If Chicago’s woes continue, however, management may have to consider fielding trade offers closer to the August 1st deadline.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Zakarie Faibis. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.