Another Red Sox pitcher has completed a major comeback to the big leagues. It took almost two years for Liam Hendriks to return to a Major League mound after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The right-hander doesn’t want to focus on another story of resilience. Instead, he wants to prove to Alex Cora and the front office that they can count on him. His first outing wasn’t brilliant, but he managed to overcome one of the most unimaginable scenarios—surviving stage 4 cancer and undergoing elbow surgery.
«I need to go out there and perform,» said Liam Hendriks to reporters after the 8–4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. «It takes away everything else. There’s no sentimental value anymore. I need to show these guys that they can feel confident going with me in any situation.»
Hendriks allowed two runs in one inning in his first MLB appearance since June 9, 2023. Andrew Vaughn hit a two-run homer, but Hendriks showed very good velocity on his fastball, topping out at 96 mph, according to Statcast.
«I just missed a fastball to a fastball hitter.», he said to NESN. «Now, I can say that I’ve pitched for the Red Sox, even though it was yellow. Now, we go».
On a historical note, Liam Hendriks became the first Australian-born player to pitch for the Boston Red Sox.
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«Getting out there and keeping the emotions somewhat in check,» said Liam Hendriks to NESN when asked about his takeaway from the performance. «Swing-and-misses on sliders and curveballs—just little things like that. It was a good thing.»
