Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks could be nearing a return to the mound after battling stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
This past January, Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks revealed that he was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma and would begin chemotherapy treatment, which he completed on Apr. 5.
Then, on Apr. 20, Hendriks revealed the news that those in the MLB world wanted to hear — he was officially cancer-free. With that, Hendriks began his rehab assignment in the minor leagues to get him ready for a return to the White Sox.
ESPN's Jeff Passan tweeted on Thursday that he spoke to Hendriks, who was heading to Chicago this week, and that the plan was for him to throw live batting practice on Friday. If that goes to plan, then a return to the White Sox will happen "soon thereafter."
White Sox: Liam Hendriks throwing live bullpen Friday, return coming soon
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said that once Hendriks throws on Friday, the team will evaluate when would be the best time for him to make his season debut with the team.
"When he throws [Friday], we'll wait and see the outcome, how he feels, what the numbers were," said Grifol, h/t the Chicago Sun-Times. "Evaluate it really well. He's close, so now we've got to really do a good job of just evaluating him, how close he really is to being Liam Hendriks, not how close he is just to pitch here in the big leagues."
Once completing chemotherapy and announcing he was cancer-free, Hendriks pitched for Triple-A Charlotte. In his first appearance for the Knights, Hendriks received a standing ovation from the Gwinnett Stripers and fans in attendance. As of this writing, Hendriks threw in six games for the Knights, striking out five batters and walking one in five innings.
Last season for the White Sox, Hendriks recorded a 2.81 ERA, a 1.040 WHIP, 37 saves, 85 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 57.2 innings (58 games).
White Sox fans, there should be a better idea of when Hendriks will make his debut for the team this season after live batting practice this Friday.