2:52pm: Grifol announced this afternoon that Hendriks will indeed begin a rehab assignment this weekend (Twitter link via Scott Merkin of MLB.com). He’ll need at least four or five outings before he’s ready to join the Major League club.
11:11am: White Sox closer Liam Hendriks, who announced just two weeks ago that he’s cancer-free after a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is expected to head out on a minor league rehab assignment this weekend, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Manager Pedro Grifol said that Hendriks “should be back here in the near future.”
The mere fact that Hendriks successfully overcame that frightening diagnosis is already one of the feel-good stories of 2023, and the possibility that he could be back on a big league mound sometime later this month is similarly heartening. It’s welcome news not only for the White Sox and their fans, but for the baseball world as a whole. Hendriks has played for five different big league clubs and endeared himself to countless fans with his ebullient personality, his fiery on-field celebrations and, of course, his elite performance in recent seasons.
The 34-year-old Hendriks went from journeyman starter to world-class closer in short order, breaking out with an All-Star showing in 2019. He saved 25 games for the A’s that season and pitched to a 1.80 ERA over the life of 85 innings. He hasn’t slowed down since, evidenced by a 2.26 ERA, 114 saves, a 38.8% strikeout rate and a 5.1% walk rate in his past 239 big league innings.
Not much has gone right for the White Sox in 2023, but Hendriks’ looming return should provide an emotional boost and a breath of fresh air in the clubhouse. He’ll also surely help to solidify a bullpen that currently has MLB’s second-worst collective ERA (6.68), second-highest walk rate (11.7%) and highest HR/9 mark by a landslide (1.82).
The Sox haven’t specified how many rehab appearances Hendriks will require, though that information could come later today. Van Schouwen notes that Hendriks has been pitching in minor league games at the White Sox’ spring facility already, so he’s not starting out from scratch. His rehab window can last for a maximum of 30 days, so barring any kind of setback, Hendriks figures to return no later than early June.
Awesome news!
Happy for Liam and can’t wait to hear him loudly swearing on TV as soon as humanly possible
Everyone is rooting for you, Liam, even those of us who don’t like the White Sox!
This is awesome news. I look forward to seeing Liam back in the majors. Best of luck sir
So happy to hear Liam is coming back cancer free! If he can recapture his old form and the White Sox continue to flounder, he’ll be a prime trade chip this summer. He signed a weird contract where his 4th year (2024) is covered with a $15M team option with a buyout amount of $15M so he’s basically signed through the end of 2024, even though they officially called it a 3 year,$54M deal when he signed. Teams should be very interested in him provided that he can get back to his usual dominance. How can’t you root for this guy?
Why do people think that, because a player is one of stars on their team, they are automatically a trade candidate? Why not keep the best players, then fill the holes some other way? Of course, this is the White Sox whose FO seems content to use minor leaguers to fill those holes. I’m glad they sent Gonzalez, Colas and somebody else I can’t remember at the moment, to the minors. I wish they’d find a 2b man, which they haven’t had for three yeard now. It’s a long shot for the Sox to make the PO. Then again, this is the ALC.
In theory you can trade a player for prospects and use the salary for a new player. Now you have prospects and the new player instead of the traded player. Problem is everyone knows the traded player is good, that’s why he was traded. The new player is either a quality veteran or a Frankenstein of players hoping to hit on. The prospects are almost a complete toss up
“Why do people think that, because a player is one of stars on their team, they are automatically a trade candidate?”
Because the team is 9-21 and if he can fully recover is one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball. And the team may go into rebuild mode anyways so why keep a dominant closer on a team with few games to actually close out?
The Sox have won two in a row and now have Liam, TA and Garrett Crochet coming back. I wouldn’t be so quick to dig their grave just yet Dorothy.
Make that 3 in a row.
He’ll probably still be the White Sox All-Star representative
First I am happy for him and his family & friend’s and also fans of his.
I hope This return Is quick and also successful. And he can show both fans and other teams that he back.
This will give Both Rich H and lap dog Kenny Williams and other player they can trade away for a bag of balls and a new shine box for Kenny Williams to polish Jerry R shoes
He’s like a lifeguard at the closed swimming pool.
Wishing Liam all the best!
Too much of a health risk to pick up his option next year.
Baseball news that made me smile. This is awesome. Not quite sure why I have a lump in my throat, but I do.
So happy for this terrific news. This should lift the spirit for the whole team. First place by All Star break!!
Good for him and hope he does well and stays healthy.
Great stuff!!! Good luck, brother
Nice! Welcome back to baseball Liam. Great to see your recovery.
Looking forward to seeing him on the mound again. Will stand and applaud if he makes an appearance at the Big A.
Awesome! It’ll be fun to watch him get pumped up on the mound, the guy is super passionate and competitive!
Liam and his wife have been very active in the Chicago charitable community since the moment he signed his contract. Very happy to hear of his recovery. Baseball is life. But somethings are bigger than life.
What a BEAST
Some good news for the Sox. Now let’s hope Girifol doesn’t run him into the ground the way LaRussa did.
You’ll have to dig in the comments archive to find it, but I called shenanigans on Tatis Jr., calling his PED charge before anyone went public. I’ll say the same with Hendricks. PED bumped down to cancer to extol the life saving properties of deadly chemo. He took a plea, missed some games to balance the books, and will have a post career pushing synthetic big pharma cure-alls to save his reputation. You are quite welcome.