Hendriks (illness) allowed two earned runs on three hits and one walk while pitching the eighth inning of Monday's 6-4 loss to the Angels.
After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in January and requiring multiple months of chemotherapy, Hendriks was cleared to return from the 15-day injured list Monday for his 2023 season debut. Since Hendriks wasn't particularly sharp over his six rehab appearances prior to being activated -- he gave up six earned runs in five innings -- White Sox manager Pedro Grifol elected to ease the veteran closer back into the mix in a non-save situation Monday. Hendriks entered the contest with the White Sox trailing 4-3 and received a rousing ovation from the home crowd, but he wasn't able to execute during his time on the mound. He needed 27 pitches just to record three outs and threw just 16 strikes. Though the White Sox likely envision Hendriks eventually reclaiming full-time closing duties, Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly could both still be in the mix for save chances in the short term while Hendriks attempts to regain form following a lengthy layoff from game action.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Activated for season debut
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The White Sox reinstated Hendriks (illness) from the 15-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Angels, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Hendriks needed several months of chemotherapy following a diagnosis in January of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He struggled on his rehab assignment, but his stuff reportedly ticked up during more recent live batting practice sessions. Manager Pedro Grifol said that Hendriks' first appearance would not come in the ninth inning, per Fegan, but the skipper is hoping the adrenaline of pitching in a major-league game will allow Hendriks' performance to continue trending up. If that happens, we should see him closing games again soon enough.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
So we know Liam Hendriks will be back Monday. We don't know exactly when he'll step back into the closer role. We also don't know whether his cancer battle has impacted his athletic ability. He was shaky on his minor-league rehab assignment, such that the White Sox opted to pull the plug and have him throw three simulated games instead. His velocity reportedly ticked up in those simulated games, but we don't have any specifics. Still, if they're ready to activate him, optimism is warranted, and Hendriks was shaping up to be one of the first five relievers drafted before his diagnosis. While questions remain, he has a chance to be a better closer than you'd ever dream of finding on the waiver wire, making him worth adding even in the shallowest leagues.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Expected to return Monday
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Hendriks (illness) is expected to be reinstated from the injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Angels, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Hendriks was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in January and spent several months undergoing chemotherapy, but he had his last round of chemotherapy in early April and announced that he was cancer-free April 20. The 34-year-old has spent the last several weeks on a rehab assignment in which he allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five in five innings over six appearances. Hendriks threw several live batting practice sessions in recent days and has been cleared to return from the injured list when the White Sox return home Monday. It's unclear whether the team will immediately slot him into the closer's role, but he's been one of the most dominant ninth-inning options in recent seasons and will likely be entrusted in high-leverage situations following his inspirational recovery.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Throws live batting practice
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Hendriks (illness) threw a successful round of live batting practice Friday in Detroit, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
"His numbers were really good," manager Pedro Grifol said of Hendriks' velocity readings during the workout. "He ticked up from [his last session in] Cleveland. Really good step in the right direction." The veteran closer now has three live batting practice sessions under his belt since a mostly underwhelming six-appearance rehab stint with Triple-A Charlotte. Recovered from an offseason diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hendriks could make a triumphant return to the White Sox bullpen at some point this weekend.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: To face hitters Friday
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Hendriks (illness) will throw live batting practice Friday in Detroit, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Hendriks is traveling with the White Sox and seems to be on the brink of being activated from the injured list, depending how Friday's workout goes. He drew rave reviews following a live BP session this past Monday. The veteran closer has not yet appeared in a major-league game for Chicago this year following an offseason diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Stuff ticks up in live BP
Rotowire
Hendricks (illness) looked "really good" in a live batting practice session Monday and is "getting really close" to returning, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday.
"The velocity was really high," Grifol said. "His slider was really, really good. He's trending in the right direction. He's getting really close." Hendriks is expected to throw another live batting practice session Thursday before being re-evaluated. If things go as well that day as they did Monday, he seems likely to be activated this weekend.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Throws simulated game
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Hendriks (illness) threw a simulated game at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Monday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
The White Sox have been vague about a potential timetable for Hendriks' activation, but the fact that he's travelled with them on their road trip would seem to bode well for his chances to return soon. Hendriks posted a 10.80 ERA in six rehab appearances while struggling with his velocity, so it's possible he'll be used in low-leverage situations initially when he is activated.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: No set date for return
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Manager Pedro Grifol told reporters Friday that there is no set date for Hendriks (illness) to return, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Grifol confirmed that Hendriks threw around 20 pitches in his live bullpen session before the game Thursday, but he mentioned repeatedly that the team will have to meet as a group to determine his next step. Hendriks did struggle in his rehab assignment with a 10.80 ERA over five innings during six appearances with Triple-A Charlotte, but all signs point to him being ready to pitch for the White Sox in the near term.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Expects to be activated soon
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Hendriks (illness) will throw live batting practice Friday and, if it goes well, is expected to be activated shortly thereafter, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that Hendriks will not be activated this week, but it would appear the reliever has a good shot to return early next week. Hendriks struggled with his velocity and results during a rehab assignment but should continue to regain strength as he further distances himself from treatment for Stage 4 non-Hodgkins's lymphoma.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Won't be activated this week
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol confirmed Wednesday that Hendriks (illness) won't be activated this week, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Hendriks has temporarily paused his minor-league rehab assignment and will head to Chicago on Thursday for a meeting with White Sox management. The veteran closer has allowed six earned runs through five innings so far with Triple-A Charlotte, which works out to a 10.80 ERA. He's on the road back from an offseason diagnosis of Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Making rehab appearance Thursday
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol told reporters Tuesday that Hendriks (illness) will make another rehab appearance for Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Grifol said the team would then evaluate Hendriks after that outing. Hendriks has struggled in his rehab appearances thus far with an 11.25 ERA over four innings from five appearances. If the right-hander pitches well for the Knights on Thursday, he could be back with Chicago at the end of the week, but the team won't rush Hendriks back, as he is still a little over a month removed from his last round of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Rehab plan to be re-evaluated
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The rehab schedule for Hendriks (illness) will be re-evaluated after Sunday's appearance for Triple-A Charlotte, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
Hendriks gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning for Charlotte on Thursday. His current "tentative schedule," according to the reliever, calls for outings Sunday and then either Tuesday or Wednesday, but he acknowledged that he's not yet ready to rejoin the White Sox bullpen. Hendriks could still be activated from the injured list late next week, but there's a good chance the team might play it safe and slow down the 34-year-old's rehab, as he's still barely a month removed from his last round of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Going back-to-back on rehab
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that Hendriks (illness) has at least three rehab outings left, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
The schedule calls for Hendriks to do back-to-back outings at Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday and Thursday, take two days off, and then pitch again for Charlotte on Sunday. He'll be evaluated for a possible return to Chicago's active roster after that. The 34-year-old closer is triumphantly nearing the end of his recovery from an offseason diagnosis of Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He's allowed one run through two innings (two appearances) on the farm.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Allows run in rehab appearance
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Hendriks (illness) yielded one run on two hits over an inning of work in his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday.
He threw 14 pitches in the outing and didn't record a strikeout. Hendriks' velocity remained down in the appearance, as he averaged 94.5 mph with his fastball, per Baseball Savant. That's up more than two mph from his first outing, though, which is a good sign. Hendriks, of course, has a good excuse for still regaining his strength given that he was undergoing chemotherapy a month ago. He's expected to make 2-to-3 more rehab appearances before rejoining the White Sox' bullpen.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Scoreless inning in rehab
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Hendriks (illness) threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Hendriks needed just nine pitches to get out of the inning. The right-hander could work again Sunday, and he eventually will make back-to-back appearances for the Knights before he rejoins the White Sox and their bullpen. Hendriks has missed all of the 2023 season after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma over the winter, and he should be closing games for the White Sox in a very short time.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Set for 4-to-5 rehab appearances
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that Hendriks (illness) will need four or five minor-league rehab appearances prior to being activated from the 15-day injured list, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Hendriks is scheduled to head down to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday and will begin appearing in games with the affiliate over the weekend. Having mapped out a pitching schedule that will eventually include appearances on back-to-back days, the veteran closer appears on track to be activated by the White Sox around the middle of May. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma over the winter and completed his final round of chemotherapy in April.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Beginning assignment Wednesday
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Hendriks (illness) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Less than two weeks after announcing he's cancer free, Hendriks is now officially slated to begin building toward his season debut with the White Sox. It's unclear how many rehab appearances the organization wants Hendriks to make, but it's still very possible the 34-year-old closer returns before the end of May.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: To have checkup soon
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Hendriks (illness) will have a checkup in Chicago next week, with the hope he can be cleared to begin a rehab assignment soon, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
We're just a week removed from Hendriks announcing that he's cancer free following a final round of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins's lymphoma. The White Sox have not placed Hendriks on the 60-day IL, leaving open the possibility that he could make his season debut before the end of May. He will certainly need ample rehab time before rejoining the big-league bullpen.
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White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Announces he's cancer free
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Hendriks announced on his personal Instagram page Thursday that he is "cancer free."
Hendriks began his final round of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma earlier this month and his latest checkup showed the cancer to be in remission. There's no set timetable for his return to MLB competition, but Hendriks did participate in workouts at White Sox camp this spring and could feasibly begin ramping up again soon. Reynaldo Lopez is the current team leader in saves with three.
