Liam Hendriks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Liam Hendriks |
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Hendriks with the White Sox in 2023
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| Boston Red Sox – No. 31 | |||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: 10 February 1989 Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
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| debut | |||
| 6 September 2011, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) |
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| Win–loss record | 33–34 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.82 | ||
| Strikeouts | 727 | ||
| Saves | 116 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Liam Johnson Hendriks (born 10 February 1989) is an Australian professional baseball closing pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). A closing pitcher is usually the last pitcher to play in a game. They try to get the final outs and "save" the win for their team.
Liam has played for several MLB teams. These include the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox. He has been chosen as an All-Star three times. He also won the American League's Reliever of the Year award in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, he won the AL MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award.
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Liam's Early Life and Sports
Liam Hendriks was born and grew up in Perth, Western Australia. He started playing tee-ball when he was five years old. At age ten, he switched to baseball. He also played Australian rules football during his high school years.
Liam's father, Geoff Hendriks, was a well-known football player in Australia. Because of his father's career, Liam could have chosen to play professional football. However, he decided to focus on baseball. The Minnesota Twins signed him to play when he turned 18.
Liam is also known for his charity work. He has been nominated five times for the Roberto Clemente Award. This award honors baseball players who do great work in their communities. Liam has worked to help end poverty in the Dominican Republic.
Liam's Professional Baseball Journey
Starting in Australia
In 2008, Liam pitched for the Perth Heat team in Australia. He helped them win the Claxton Shield series. He had a great record of 3 wins and 0 losses. He also had a low earned run average (ERA) of 1.90. Liam was named Rookie of the Year for his excellent performance.
He returned to play for the Perth Heat in 2010. After a strong start, he had a tougher second half of the season.
Playing for the Minnesota Twins
Liam joined the Minnesota Twins organization in 2007. He quickly became a top young player. In 2008, he had back surgery, which kept him from playing for a while. But he still made the Australian national team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He was the youngest Australian player in the Classic.
In 2011, Liam was called up to play for the Minnesota Twins in the Major Leagues. He was also named the Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year. In 2012, he earned his first Major League win.
Moving to Other Teams
After leaving the Twins, Liam was claimed by the Chicago Cubs and then the Baltimore Orioles. In 2014, the Toronto Blue Jays claimed him. He played well for their Triple-A team, the Buffalo Bisons. He was even named an All-Star for the International League.
Later in 2014, Liam was traded to the Kansas City Royals. He played a few games for them before returning to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Second Time with the Blue Jays
In 2015, Liam played only as a reliever for the Blue Jays. This means he came into games after the starting pitcher. He had a great season, playing in 58 games.
During the playoffs, Liam set a special record. In a game against the Kansas City Royals, he pitched 4 and 1/3 innings without giving up any runs. He got 13 outs from only 12 batters. This broke an 85-year-old playoff record!
Time with the Oakland Athletics
In 2015, Liam was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He continued to pitch as a reliever. In 2018, he even started a playoff game as an "opener." This is a new strategy where a reliever starts the game for a short time. He was the first Australian to start an MLB playoff game.
In 2019, Liam became the Athletics' main closer. He had an amazing season, with a very low ERA of 1.80. He also saved 25 games and was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He continued his strong performance in 2020.
Joining the Chicago White Sox
In 2021, Liam signed a big contract with the Chicago White Sox. He quickly became one of the best relievers in baseball. He won the AL Reliever of the Month award twice.
He also earned a save in the 2021 All-Star Game. Later that year, he was the winning pitcher in the special Field of Dreams game in Iowa. In 2021, Liam led the American League with 38 saves. He won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award for the second year in a row.
In 2022, Liam made his third All-Star Game appearance. He continued to be a strong pitcher for the White Sox.
Facing a Health Challenge
In January 2023, Liam shared that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. He began treatment right away. In April, he announced that he had finished chemotherapy. Soon after, he shared the wonderful news that he was cancer-free!
Liam returned to play for the White Sox in May 2023. However, he later had elbow problems and needed surgery. After the season, he became a free agent. For his incredible comeback, he won the AL MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2023.
With the Boston Red Sox
In February 2024, Liam signed a two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. He is currently recovering from his elbow surgery. He started playing in minor league rehab games in August. In September, he was again nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award.
Playing for Australia
Liam has also played for the Australian national baseball team. He was part of the team for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He was the youngest Australian player in that tournament.
Liam's Personal Life
Liam married his wife, Kristi, in 2013. He is a big fan of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team. He also supports the North Melbourne Football Club, an Australian rules football team.
Liam's journey through cancer treatment and back to baseball has inspired many people.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players from Australia
