🧢⚾️Liam Hendriks Bounces Back: Returning to the White Sox Post-Battle with Lymphoma💪🎉
TL;DR:
They say a diamond is a chunk of coal that handled stress exceptionally well. Our diamond dude Liam Hendriks, the 34-year-old Aussie right-hander, has shown his resilience and is set to return to the White Sox after a long fight with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 🙌 A video announcing his return caused a Twitter frenzy, leaving fans waiting in anticipation for the Monday night game against the LA Angels. The White Sox could sure use a superhero, having recently faced a string of losses. Let’s see if Hendriks will be the wind beneath their wings. 🦸♂️
Hendriks, who had a considerable fan following for his eccentric persona, found his way back to Instagram, posting a cryptic “See you soon Southside,” adding further excitement and mystery to his upcoming return. If Instagram posts had sound, you’d probably hear the White Sox fans cheer from your living room. 📣 But the question is, will this Instagram announcement break Kim Kardashian’s internet-breaking record? 🤔
With six rehab appearances to his name since his hiatus, Hendriks’ stats show a 10.80 ERA with Triple-A Charlotte. Some might argue that’s not his finest, but remember folks, he’s been through a personal war, and he’s still on his feet. Plus, have you ever tried to throw a curveball after months of chemo? Thought so. 🤨
The White Sox, currently at 22-33, haven’t had their best run this season. Dropping three of four games in Detroit, they’ve had a rough time keeping their heads above water. You could almost hear the Jaws theme song playing in the background every time they stepped onto the field. But here comes Hendriks, just in time to bring some much-needed hope. Will his return spark a turnaround? 🔥
In a baseball career spanning over 12 seasons, Hendriks, despite his roller-coaster journey with Minnesota, Toronto, Kansas City, Oakland, and Chicago, boasts an impressive 115 saves and a 3.81 ERA. Signing a $54 million three-year deal with the White Sox in January 2021, he’s more than just a pretty face with a baseball cap.
In his first year with Chicago, Hendriks topped the American League charts with a whopping 38 saves, while bagging the third position in the major leagues with 37 saves. And to top it all off, he made his third All-Star team in 2022. But, with such significant accomplishments under his belt, will his health setback affect his performance this season? 😳
Hendriks, diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, noticed some lumps on his neck last summer. What followed was a series of immunotherapy and chemotherapy treatments until he announced his remission in April. And here’s a guy who takes it in his stride, stating it hasn’t changed his outlook on life. 👏
“I miss being in this clubhouse,” Hendriks said on May 3 in his first media interaction since his diagnosis in January. “It’s made me miss being a part of the team.” The longing was mutual, with fans missing him on the pitch. Will his presence reignite the spark in the White Sox performance and bring back the glory days? 🎆
On a final note, while we cheer for Liam and anticipate his return to the diamond, it raises a question. Will his comeback be the “h
