Ahead of their first game of the Spring training, the Boston Red Sox have landed three-time All-Star pitcher Liam Hendriks . The injured closer joins the team on a two-year, $10 million deal from free agency.
The former Chicago White Sox star has been sidelined with injury since July. This came after he had just returned to MLB after batting life-threatening cancer.
While the 35-year-old closer will not join the team immediately, he does have a date in his mind for his MLB debut with the Red Sox. After undergoing a Tommy John Surgery in August, fans had been wondering when will they get to see him back on the mound again?
As per Hendriks, he is targeting the Trade Deadline date in August to pitch again. Though he passed his physical on Tuesday, there are still some steps for him to follow on his road to recovery.
The Trade Deadline. That's my goal... Throwing has been going well. These guys got a chance to see me throw for the first time today. They seemed pleased with what I was doing. It seems pretty normal to me. Liam Hendriks on his return date to baseball as per MLB.com.
His two-year deal will see him appear in the 2024 and 2025 season but he also has a mutual option for the 2026 season. Apart from this, his performance bonuses could see the deal rise to $20 million.
Liam Hendriks: From batting cancer to triumphant return to MLB
The year 2023 was a tough one for Liam Hendriks. At the start of the new year, the Australian pitcher announced he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hendriks would later start chemotherapy treatment. Four months later in April, the pitcher declared he was cancer-free and had won his battle.
This saw him make a triumphant return to baseball in May against the Los Angeles Angels. Though his team ended up losing the game, the fans were more than happy to see him comeback to MLB.
The come back unfortunately did not last long enough as he suffered an elbow inflammation. This saw him end the 2023 season with just five appearances. Despite all this, he was honored with the American League Comeback Player of the Year award.
After the White Sox declined him a club option, he became a free agent. Now Hendriks embarks on a new journey as he joins the Red Sox on a two-year contract.
Only time will tell about how he performs with the Red Sox. The Boston-based side would be happy to welcome him as quickly as possible as they seek some leadership in their clubhouse to turn things around in the upcoming season.
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