Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Returns after lengthy absence
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Hendriks allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one over one inning in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the White Sox.
It had been 22 months since Hendriks last pitched in a major-league game. The right-hander first beat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma before Tommy John elbow surgery sidelined him. He opened the eighth inning, allowing a single to the first batter faced then a two-run home run two batters later. "Some good things to take from it, some not so great things to take from it," Hendriks told Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. "But, now I can say I've gone out there. Now I can say I've pitched for the Boston Red Sox. Now there's no sentimental value to anything like that. It's go and perform." Returning to the role as a closer may not be in the cards for Hendriks, but the Red Sox want him eventually to be part of a late-game crew.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Officially activated
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The Red Sox reinstated Hendriks (elbow) from the injured list Saturday.
For the first time since signing with the Red Sox before the 2024 season, Hendriks now owns a spot on the active roster. He figures to take on a high-leverage role out of the bullpen after throwing three shutout frames during his rehab assignment, though his chances of claiming the closer job are slim as long as Aroldis Chapman continues to pitch well. Hunter Dobbins was optioned to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Returning Saturday
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The Red Sox will reinstate Hendriks (elbow) from the injured list Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Hendriks has fired three shutout innings while striking out five batters across his three rehab appearances in the minor leagues, and he's now due to join the active roster for the first time since signing a two-year deal with the Red Sox prior to the 2024 campaign. Aroldis Chapman seems to have a tight grip on the closer job in Boston, but Hendriks should still be used fairly often in high-leverage situations.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Will have one more rehab outing
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Monday that Hendriks (elbow) will pitch one more time for Triple-A Worcester before being activated from the 15-day injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
After beginning the season on the IL due to right elbow inflammation, Hendriks progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment Thursday. He's pitched well in his two outings with the WooSox, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four across two scoreless innings. Following his next rehab outing and barring any setbacks, Hendriks could join the Red Sox's bullpen as soon as this weekend's home series against the White Sox.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Throws scoreless rehab outing
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Hendriks (elbow) walked one and struck out one over a scoreless inning for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.
Hendriks made his second rehab appearance for the WooSox and looked sharp in both. He's allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four over two innings. Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Lauren Campbell of MassLive.com that the organization will assess where Hendriks is at before considering potential next moves.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Shines in rehab outing
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Hendriks (elbow) allowed one run and struck out three over a scoreless inning for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.
Hendriks started the game and worked around a soft roller (63.4 mph) to third that resulted in a single. The right-hander threw 18 pitches (13 strikes) in his first rehab outing after a rocky spring. He told reporters he felt good following the game and believed he located pitches better than he had during spring training, per Greg Dudek of NESN.com. Hendriks will likely get a few more rehab appearances before joining the Red Sox. He may serve as a bridge to closer Aroldis Chapman, although save opportunities could come his way when manager Alex Cora wants a righty.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Starting up assignment Thursday
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Hendriks (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
After checking out fine upon completing a bullpen session over the weekend, Hendriks has received the green light to head to the minors, where he'll likely make a handful of appearances before coming off the 15-day injured list. Heading into spring training, Hendriks appeared to be a leading candidate to take over as Boston's closer in 2025, but he'll likely have to settle for a setup role in front of Aroldis Chapman once he's activated.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Nearing rehab assignment
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Hendriks (elbow) will likely begin a rehab assignment during the weekend, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Hendriks began throwing bullpen sessions last weekend and will presumably progress to facing hitters during the week. If he's able to get through that without any issues, the Red Sox will send him out to one of their minor-league affiliates for a few rehab outings and could have him back in their bullpen before the end of the month.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Bullpen session this weekend
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Friday that Hendriks (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Friday or Saturday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
It will be the first time Hendriks has thrown off a mound since he landed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Hendriks will be eligible for activation April 8, but given that he's just now getting back on the bump, he's unlikely to return at that time.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Throwing from 120 feet
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Hendriks (elbow) threw out to 120 feet Tuesday in Baltimore during Boston's day off, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Boston manager Alex Cora indicated Hendriks is feeling better but is not yet ready for mound work. That could happen at some point this weekend.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Throws Sunday
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Hendriks (elbow) resumed playing catch Sunday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Hendriks received a cortisone shot Thursday and said he feels much better. He said the shot loosened the tension in what he called a compressed nerve. The right-hander believes he can return from the 15-day injured list around when he's first eligible April 8, but manager Alex Cora said that the Red Sox will not skip any steps in the rehab process for Hendriks, who didn't pitch for the big club and was limited to six minor-league appearances while finishing up his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Positive outlook confirmed
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Hendriks was diagnosed with a compressed nerve in his right elbow and expects to resume throwing early next week, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Hendriks landed on the injured list Thursday after a tough spring, though the team was optimistic his absence would be brief. The initial diagnosis confirms that outlook, and Hendriks could be back after the 15-day minimum if his recovery goes smoothly.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Absence expected to be brief
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Hendriks will get his right elbow examined in Texas, likely on Thursday, but the Red Sox are optimistic the injury isn't serious, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Hendriks was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier Thursday with a previously undisclosed elbow injury. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said the reliever "wasn't bouncing back" as hoped and his stuff "wasn't where he wanted it to be." More will be known following Hendriks' visit with Dr. Keith Meister, but Breslow is optimistic the righty will return "pretty quickly."
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Behind Chapman for closer
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Hendriks has fallen behind Aroldis Chapman in the battle to come Boston's closer, Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com report.
Hendriks had location issues during his first few Cactus League appearances but most recently threw a scoreless inning last Saturday. Per the report, the reliever corrected the command issues, but the quality of Chapman's stuff has put him over the top in the competition. Justin Slaten is also in the mix but appears destined for a setup role.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Manager not worried
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Boston manager Alex Cora is not panicked by Hendriks' spring results thus far, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports. "The velo's good, he's just got to execute," Cora said Monday. "I think it's too early to be worried about that. As long as he's healthy, we're going to keep running him out there."
Hendriks was most recently tagged for two runs on three hits over one inning Sunday, the third consecutive outing in which the Red Sox's potential closer has given up runs. The manager pointed to Hendrik's velocity, which was at 91 mph early in camp before increasing to 96 mph in Grapefruit League games. Cora takes an optimistic tack, while others, like one rival scout told McAdam, see Hendriks has been missing location over the middle of the plate. There's still time for Hendriks (13.50 ERA, 11 hits, four spring innings) to stabilize, but at this point in the Grapefruit League, Boston's closer situation remains unsettled. Aroldis Chapman (4.91 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 3.2 spring innings) and Justin Slaten (no earned runs, three innings) are also in the mix.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Slated to pitch Wednesday
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Hendriks is slated to pitch in Wednesday's game against the Rays, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
This will be Hendriks' first Grapefruit League action of the year and his first game action since June of 2023. Aroldis Chapman is also expected to pitch in Wednesday's exhibition, while Justin Slaten is scheduled to throw a live batting practice. Therefore, as Browne wrote, the closer competition will officially get underway. In addition to Hendriks, Chapman and Slaten, Garrett Whitlock is expected to get late-inning work, so how each pitcher fares this spring will be important for determining who gets the first save chances of the year in Boston.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Fastball showing promise in live BP
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Hendriks was sitting at 93-94 mph during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Hendriks was averaging less than 93 mph during his brief rehab assignment last season, so the velocity he's displaying early in spring training, while down considerably from his 97.6 mph average fastball speed during his last healthy season in 2022, seems fairly encouraging. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Hendriks' velocity is "trending up," per Tyler Milliken of 98.5 The Sports Hub, and he believes it will continue to tick up as Opening Day draws nearer. Hendriks is competing with Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten for Boston's closer job.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Closer committee possible
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Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Tuesday that he's open to the team using Hendriks and others in a closer by committee, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
The Red Sox would surely prefer for someone to emerge as the clear choice to close, whether that's Hendriks, Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock (elbow) or someone else, but if that doesn't happen they could use multiple guys in the role. Hendriks enters camp healthy and is viewed as the slight favorite to handle the ninth inning. However, he just turned 36 and made only six rehab appearances in 2024 after appearing in just five games in 2023, so it's uncertain how much rust may impact his performance, particularly early in the season.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Having normal offseason
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Hendriks (elbow) said Wednesday he's been throwing bullpen sessions for a month and a half and is having "a pretty normal offseason," Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Hendriks was limited to just six rehab appearances in 2024 after making it back from Tommy John surgery and threw only 10 innings in 2023 after returning from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It would appear he will enter spring training without restrictions, but it's a mystery what Hendriks' stuff will look like considering how much time he's missed and the fact that he'll turn 36 in February. Browne writes that Hendriks "might be a slight favorite" to open 2025 as Boston's closer, but it's a tentative designation to say the least.
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Red Sox's Liam Hendriks: Optimism in front office
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Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Hendriks (elbow) should be "fully healthy" to begin the 2025 season, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Breslow also cited Hendriks' "impressive track record at closing games," which suggests the door is open for the right-hander to win the closer's job. He didn't pitch in a competitive game during the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The identity of Boston's closer was thrown into uncertainty after the team agreed to terms last week with Aroldis Chapman on a deal that becomes official once Chapman passes a physical.
