CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- White Sox closer Liam Hendriks produced a memorable comeback this offseason as he returned to the mound after beating Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Then came a setback in the form of a torn UCL in Hendriks’ right shoulder. He underwent Tommy John Surgery this month, setting course for a 12-to-14 month recovery. Hendriks said on Friday that he expects to pitch again, and hopes that comes late next season.
"My goal is to pitch next year," Hendriks said Friday night before the White Sox opened a three-game series with the Brewers at Guaranteed Rate Field. "I know the regular timeline is 12-to-15 months for recovery. The low end of that I will push, so I think I can pitch by September 6th or within 13 months. My goal is to pitch next year and have a relatively normal offseason. I want to be able to do my normal offseason throwing program after that. Not knowing contract-wise, I might need that extra showcase to get a job."
The White Sox hold a $15 million option on Hendriks for 2024. However, he gets paid the full $15 million if he is tendered a contract or not.
Hendricks, 34, has not been present with the White Sox for much of this season during his respective recoveries. As he rejoined the team Friday night, Hendriks addressed the state of a clubhouse in apparent turmoil.
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn spoke early this week about the struggles to create a winning culture. This followed former right-hander Keynan Middleton claiming there were “no rules” for the White Sox in an ESPN story, and a report from 670 The Score that said shortstop Tim Anderson and catcher Yasmani Grandal were involved in a physical altercation in July.
The White Sox traded pitchers Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Reynaldo Lopez, Kendall Graveman and Middleton, plus slugger Jake Burger, this in a series of moves that marked selling prior to MLB’s Aug. 1 trade deadline.
The White Sox are 47-69 as they start this home set with the Brewers. Hendriks was saddened but not shocked by the recent meltdown of the White Sox
"Anybody who has ever spent time in the clubhouse knows it's a very player-driven thing," Hendriks said. "Many things have to be handled by the players. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be here for the first two months. So, it's been very hard for me to act in any leadership role and take charge of things, because I have not been able to do anything on the field. I don't think I earned that right.
“You have 26 men in the clubhouse. So, let’s be honest; athletes have a tendency to have some big egos on them. With those inflated egos, you are always going to buttheads. I have different philosophical views than other guys. I like to concentrate on positivity and harping on the bigger things. Other people have the opposite view. No way is wrong or right. All that matters is you mesh together. We had some butting of heads where no one was willing to back down on. That there really caused us a riff.
“Hopefully we can take the egos aside and get to a point that we want to show next year and be in the right frame of mind and positive views on the way things should be run. You must make compromises .At the end of the day, I think we now have the right frame of mind in here. This is a talented group of position players who can and should get back to being a playoff-caliber team."