Sun Apr 20 11:30:00 UTC 2025: **Red Sox Pitcher Liam Hendriks Returns After Cancer Battle and Tommy John Surgery**
BOSTON – After a grueling 680-day journey marked by a Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, Tommy John surgery, and persistent self-doubt, Liam Hendriks returned to the Boston Red Sox roster on Saturday. The 36-year-old three-time All-Star last pitched in a major league game on June 9, 2023.
Hendriks, who was named the 2023 AL Comeback Player of the Year, admitted to a significant mental hurdle in regaining his form following surgery. Despite throwing 96 mph fastballs during spring training, he found hitters were comfortably connecting, a stark contrast to his pre-surgery performance. He attributed his success in the past to a specific jump on his fastball, which he struggled to replicate.
The support of his wife, Kristi, proved instrumental in his recovery. “A lot of it is just showing up every day and making sure you just get that little bit better,” Hendriks said, jokingly adding his wife’s impatience with his extended injured list stay was also a motivator.
Following six minor league rehab appearances last August and three this spring, Hendriks’s return marks a significant milestone in his remarkable comeback. His reactivation came at the cost of right-hander Hunter Dobbins, who was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Known for his charitable work, including providing T-shirts to team employees at a season-ending party, Hendriks’s perseverance and positive attitude have made him a popular figure within the Red Sox organization.
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