Liam Hendriks Isn’t Just Back-He’s Ready to Compete Again
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Liam Hendriks has already pulled off one of the most inspiring comebacks in baseball. Now, the veteran reliever is chasing something even tougher: a return to form.
“I haven’t really come back since cancer,” Hendriks said Friday morning at Twins camp. “I came back a little bit last year, but I still wasn’t in a good spot.
There were some underlying issues there. I was trying to push through a little too much.”
Let’s put that in context. Hendriks, now 37, was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in January 2023.
By May-just five months later-he was back on a big-league mound with the White Sox. That alone was remarkable.
But his return was short-lived. After just five appearances, his elbow gave out, and he underwent Tommy John surgery in August.
Fast forward to 2025, and Hendriks made it back again, this time with the Red Sox. But the comeback trail remained bumpy. Nerve issues in his throwing arm led to another surgery-an ulnar nerve transposition and posterior interosseous nerve release-to address persistent numbness in three fingers.
That’s two major surgeries in less than two years. And yet, Hendriks isn’t even entertaining the idea of walking away.
“Why would I go under the knife twice to not play or at least not attempt it?” he said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
He’s not just physically healthier-he’s mentally sharper, too. Hendriks talked about learning to train smarter, not just harder.
“Take a step back and not try to run through that same brick wall over and over again,” he said. “Do enough work to make it a plywood wall, and that’s easy to run through.”
After wearing a brace for three weeks following his latest surgery, Hendriks revamped his offseason program at Cressey Sports Performance. He admitted he’d been stubborn in the past, sticking to old routines that didn’t suit a post-Tommy John recovery.
“I was kind of stubborn and kept on my old workout program, which was nothing, and just tried to throw through things,” he said. “But then (I was) not able to.”
This time around, he’s done things differently. Hendriks has already thrown six bullpens, including a Jan. 27 showcase that drew attention from multiple teams. The Twins didn’t waste time reaching out.
For Hendriks, the fit made sense. Minnesota was the first organization to sign him back in 2007, and he pitched for them from 2011 to 2013. There’s still a comfort level with the support staff, and more importantly, there’s opportunity-Minnesota’s bullpen has openings, especially for a proven late-inning arm.
If Hendriks is healthy, he could be a difference-maker. From 2019 to 2022, he was one of the most dominant closers in the game. Now, he’s in unfamiliar territory-competing for a job, not locking down the ninth.
“I’m using spring training this year as a springboard,” he said. “It’s going to be interesting. I’ve never really had to do it.”
He compared it to his 2015 spring with the Blue Jays, when he was fighting for a final roster spot. This time, he’s pacing himself.
No need to peak in early March. He knows his body better now.
He knows what it takes to get ready-and stay ready.
“It’s a matter of showing,” he said. “I much would prefer (pacing) than going too hard too early, and all of a sudden you’re starting to get a little sore toward the end, and then it’s ‘OK, what do I do now?’”
Hendriks also made the tough call not to pitch for Team Australia in the first round of the World Baseball Classic, which kicks off March 5 in Japan. While he’d love to represent his country, his focus is on earning a spot in the Twins’ bullpen. If Australia advances to the later rounds in Miami and he’s throwing well, he might still get that chance.
“It was definitely a tough decision,” he said. “Hopefully, once they advance, I’ll be in a position where I’m still in the pitchers pool, and I can still go to that. We’ll base it upon that, but at this point in time, I have to base it on trying to win a job here.”
He’ll wear No. 31 this spring-a number that holds personal significance. Hendriks is the 31st Australian to play in the majors, and now he finally gets to wear that number on his back.
Shelton Settling In
Twins camp has a familiar face in a new role. Derek Shelton, who served as Minnesota’s bench coach in 2018 and 2019, is back in Fort Myers-but this time as the manager.
And he’s enjoying the change of pace.
“I was really excited putting the uniform on,” Shelton said. “I think you don’t realize the privilege of putting a major-league uniform on until you don’t put a major-league uniform on.”
After being let go by the Pirates last May, Shelton is soaking in the little things-watching bullpens, overseeing drills, and just being back in the rhythm of spring training.
“That gets taken away from you for four months? (Thursday) was a really cool day for me,” he said.
Camp Notes
- The Twins signed right-hander Cody Laweryson to a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league camp. Laweryson made his MLB debut last season, posting a 1.17 ERA with seven strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. He was released by the Angels last week after being claimed off waivers in November.
- Right-hander Cory Lewis is being evaluated for a shoulder injury. He reported discomfort after a bullpen session and will be re-assessed in two weeks.
- Twins legend Johan Santana is in camp this week and was on hand to watch Pablo López throw a bullpen session Friday. Santana is serving as Venezuela’s pitching coach in the upcoming WBC, where López will be one of his starters.
- Justin Morneau is expected to arrive next week before heading to the WBC as Team Canada’s hitting coach.
Liam Hendriks isn’t just trying to make another comeback. He’s trying to prove he still belongs-on the mound, in the moment, and in the conversation. And if his track record tells us anything, betting against him might not be the smartest play.