Pink Sox’s Liam Hendriks returns after ‘lengthy and arduous journey’

BOSTON — Liam Hendriks knew the quantity as if it was his profession saves or ERA: 680 days.

The 36-year-old right-hander was again on a significant league roster Saturday with the Boston Pink Sox, in place to make his first massive league look since June 9, 2023.

“It looks like not less than a thousand,” Hendriks mentioned, smiling in the midst of the clubhouse. “It feels so much longer than that. It has been an extended and arduous journey to get right here.”

Hendriks was identified with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in December 2022, and the three-time All-Star returned to the mound on Could 29, 2023. He made 5 appearances, went on the injured record with proper elbow irritation and had Tommy John surgical procedure Aug. 2 that yr.

After the season, he was voted the AL Comeback Participant of the Yr for 2023.

Hendriks made six minor league rehab appearances final August and three this spring. The Pink Sox activated him from the 15-day injured record Saturday and optioned right-hander Hunter Dobbins to Triple-A Worcester.

A preferred participant recognized for charitable work, together with offering T-shirts for crew staff eventually yr’s season-ending workers get together, Hendriks questioned his personal capacity throughout spring coaching.

“Even after I was 96 [mph] in spring, they had been taking approach too comfy swings on it, and that was one factor that was actually hampering me,” Hendriks mentioned. “It was actually a psychological battle to determine what the distinction was.”

An All-Star with Oakland in 2019 and the White Sox in 2021 and ’22, Hendriks could not determine what he was doing in a different way after the surgical procedure.

“All the information mentioned it was related however it’s actually onerous to outline the issues that made me so far as pitching,” he mentioned. “One among issues that gave me the flexibility to do effectively was the leap to the fastball and having that leap the place it performs up a bit bit and will get on guys.”

When he was sidelined, his spouse, Kristi, pushed him to return to the sector.

“Plenty of it’s simply exhibiting up on daily basis and ensuring you simply get that little bit higher,” he mentioned, earlier than joking: “That and the disdain from my spouse [from] nonetheless being on the IL. That was one of many motivating components, as effectively.”