Former Chicago White Sox' Closer Working Through Critical Rehab Step with New Team
As he works through his rehab from Tommy John surgery, new Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks was seen throwing on Monday morning in Fort Myers.
Per Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston:
"Good morning: Liam Hendriks is throwing."
The burly right-hander signed a two-year deal with the Red Sox a few weeks ago and could potentially make his team debut later this season, although they won't rush to get him back and could shelve him until 2025. Either way, it's good to see him out and throwing.
Though it remains a longshot that he'll pitch in 2024, perhaps anything is possible for Hendriks. He already beat a cancer diagnosis in the offseason after the 2022 season and returned in May of 2023 before injury the elbow.
A three-time All-Star, the 35-year-old Hendriks is a 13-year big league veteran. He has played for the Twins, Royals, Blue Jays, Athletics and White Sox.
He starred with Chicago when healthy from 2021-2022. He led the league in saves in 2021 with 38. He also helped the White Sox get to the playoffs that year.
For his career, he's 33-34 with a 3.82 ERA. He's got 116 career saves, the bulk of which have come since 2019.
The Red Sox are projected to finish last in the American League East this season. Because reliever Kenley Jansen is a free agent at the end of the season, he could be traded at the trade deadline, which would open up the closer's role for Hendriks this season (if he's back) or next season (when Jansen is likely gone in FA).
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