Liam Hendriks Bio
Liam Johnson Hendriks is an Australian professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox. Hendriks is a three-time All-Star and is widely regarded as one of the premier relief pitchers of his generation, earning recognition through awards such as the American League Reliever of the Year and the AL Comeback Player of the Year.
Early Life and Background
Liam Johnson Hendriks was born on 10 February 1989 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. He grew up in a sports-minded family, with his father, Geoff Hendriks, having played over 150 games of senior football for the West Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League. Hendriks’s paternal grandparents emigrated to Australia from the Netherlands. Because of his father’s football career, Liam was eligible to be drafted by the West Coast Eagles under the Australian Football League’s father-son rule, but he chose to pursue baseball instead.
Hendriks began playing tee-ball at age five, choosing it over the traditional Australian summer game of cricket. He transitioned fully to baseball at ten and also played Australian rules football during his youth. He attended Sacred Heart College in Sorrento, where he continued to play both baseball and football through high school. On his eighteenth birthday, he was signed by the Minnesota Twins, launching his professional career.
Path to Professional Baseball
Hendriks made his professional debut in 2007 in the Gulf Coast League Twins, leading the team with 52 strikeouts and earning a spot among the organization’s top prospects. The following year, he pitched for the Perth Heat in the Claxton Shield, going 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA and a competition-high 25 strikeouts, and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year. Back surgery limited his 2008 season, but he still joined the 2009 World Baseball Classic roster as the youngest Australian player in the tournament.
He progressed through the Twins system in 2009 and 2010, reaching Triple-A Rochester. In 2011, Hendriks was named an All-Star for the New Britain Rock Cats, invited to a second All-Star Futures Game, and honored as the Twins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year. His strong development in the minors led to his Major League call-up that September, marking the end of his climb toward the big leagues.
Liam Hendriks Career
Early Career (2011–2014)
Hendriks debuted in the majors with the Minnesota Twins on 5 September 2011, finishing his rookie season with an 0-2 record. He earned his first Major League victory on 19 September 2012, a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians. The Twins designated him for assignment in December 2013 after the signing of Phil Hughes, ending his time in the organization.
He was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs, then Baltimore, and finally the Toronto Blue Jays in February 2014. After stints in Triple-A Buffalo, Hendriks was traded to the Kansas City Royals in late July 2014 and then traded back to Toronto in October 2014. Pitching exclusively out of the bullpen in 2015, he appeared in a career-high 58 games, going 5-0 with a 2.92 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 64 and two-thirds innings. In the 2015 ALCS, he set a postseason record by retiring 13 batters while facing only 12, earning Baseball Australia’s Male Player of the Year award.
Oakland Athletics Era (2016–2020)
Acquired by Oakland in November 2015, Hendriks spent his first two seasons adjusting to a relief role. He was designated for assignment in June 2018 but returned to the majors in September. That year, he became the first Australian-born player to start an MLB postseason game when Oakland used him as the opener in the 2018 American League Wild Card Game.
Following an injury to Blake Treinen, Hendriks became Oakland’s closer in 2019 and made his first All-Star team as a replacement for Charlie Morton. He finished 4-4 with a 1.80 ERA and 25 saves in 85 innings, earning All-MLB Second Team honors. In the shortened 2020 season, he posted a 1.78 ERA with 14 saves, won the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award, and was named an All-MLB First Team selection. His dominance continued into the postseason, helping Oakland in the ALWCS and ALDS.
Chicago White Sox Era (2021–2023)
In January 2021, Hendriks signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. He earned AL Reliever of the Month honors in both May and September and recorded the final out of the 2021 All-Star Game at Coors Field. He also picked up the win in the iconic Field of Dreams game in Iowa, despite a dramatic ninth-inning rally by the Yankees. Hendriks finished 2021 with 38 saves, a 2.54 ERA, and 113 strikeouts, leading all MLB relievers in punchouts and winning his second straight Reliever of the Year award.
His 2022 season began with struggles but he rebounded to make his third All-Star team, finishing with a 2.81 ERA and 37 saves. He opened 2023 on the injured list while recovering from cancer treatment, made five appearances before inflammation ended his season, and underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2023. That October, Hendriks won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award and became a free agent when the White Sox declined their club option.
Boston Red Sox Era (2024–2025)
On 20 February 2024, the Boston Red Sox signed Hendriks to a two-year, $10 million contract. He began the year on the 60-day injured list while continuing his recovery, appeared in minor league rehab games in August, and was later named Boston’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. On 19 April 2025, the Red Sox activated him for his return to the majors.
Across 14 appearances with Boston in 2025, Hendriks struggled to a 6.59 ERA and an 0-2 record before right hip inflammation sent him back to the injured list. He underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery on 29 September 2025. On 4 November 2025, the Red Sox declined his 2026 option, returning him to free agency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hendriks built his reputation on a power fastball paired with a sharp breaking slider, giving him the swing-and-miss stuff needed to handle high-leverage innings. He excelled at limiting hard contact and generating strikeouts, ranking among the league’s best in whiff rate during his peak seasons. His composure on the mound and ability to navigate late-inning pressure made him a trusted closer wherever he pitched.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hendriks earned a place in baseball history as the first Australian-born player to start a postseason game, and he broke an 85-year-old playoff record for outs recorded during the 2015 ALCS. His three All-Star selections, two Reliever of the Year awards, and Comeback Player of the Year honor reflect a career defined by both dominance and perseverance.
Liam Hendriks Career Wins
While wins for relief pitchers are difficult to track with precision, Hendriks has earned notable victories across his Major League stops. His first MLB win came with the Twins in 2012, and he went on to record high-leverage wins with the Blue Jays, Athletics, White Sox, and Red Sox.
Oakland Athletics Highlights
Hendriks contributed key wins during Oakland’s late-season pushes in 2019 and 2020. His standout performance came in the 2019 season when he locked down 25 saves and posted a 1.80 ERA, anchoring one of the most reliable bullpens in the American League. He continued that form in 2020, helping Oakland advance through the ALWCS and ALDS.
Other Wins and Performances
Hendriks recorded one of the most memorable wins of his career in the 2021 Field of Dreams game against the Yankees, securing the victory for the White Sox in walk-off fashion. He also earned a win during the 2021 All-Star Game, closing out the American League’s 5-2 victory at Coors Field.
Liam Hendriks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hendriks comes from a family with strong sporting roots. His father, Geoff Hendriks, had a lengthy career with the West Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League. His paternal grandparents emigrated to Australia from the Netherlands, and the family’s athletic heritage shaped Liam’s path toward professional sport.
Personal Life
Hendriks married his wife, Kristi Hendriks, in 2013. Through Kristi, he became a devoted fan of the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL. In January 2023, he announced a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, completed chemotherapy in April 2023, and confirmed he was cancer-free later that month. His recovery and return to the mound became one of the most inspiring comebacks in recent baseball history.
2025 Season Performance
Hendriks’s 2025 campaign was defined by both perseverance and challenges. After spending the early part of the year on the injured list, he was activated on 19 April and joined the Red Sox bullpen. In 14 appearances, he struggled to find his top form, finishing with an 0-2 record and a 6.59 ERA before right hip inflammation forced him back to the injured list in late May.
He underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery on 29 September 2025, ending his season on a difficult note. Despite the setbacks, Hendriks remained a respected veteran presence in the Boston clubhouse, and his willingness to compete through adversity continued to define his reputation. On 4 November 2025, the Red Sox declined his option, returning him to free agency and leaving the next chapter of his career open as he continues his recovery.