Liam Hendriks Bio
Liam Johnson Hendriks is an Australian professional baseball pitcher who has built a reputation as one of the premier relief pitchers of his generation. He has pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox. A three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year, Hendriks is widely respected for both his performance on the mound and his resilience through serious health challenges.
Early Life and Background
Liam Johnson Hendriks was born on 10 February 1989 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. He began playing tee-ball at the age of five, choosing baseball over the traditional Australian summer game of cricket, and transitioned fully to baseball by the time he was ten. During his formative years, he also played Australian rules football, a sport that ran in the family.
Hendriks attended Sacred Heart College in Sorrento, where he continued to play both baseball and football. His paternal grandparents emigrated to Australia from the Netherlands, and his father, Geoff Hendriks, played more than 150 senior games for the West Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League. Under the father-son rule used by the Australian Football League at the time, Liam was eligible to be drafted by the West Coast Eagles, but he chose to pursue baseball instead and was signed by the Minnesota Twins on his eighteenth birthday.
Path to Baseball
Hendriks first drew national attention in 2008, when he pitched for the Perth Heat in the Claxton Shield and went 3-0 with a 1.90 earned run average and 25 strikeouts, a competition high. He was named Rookie of the Year for that season and was added to the Australian national team for the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, where he pitched five innings and struck out six batters. The same year, back surgery kept him out of the minor leagues, but he recovered in time to make the 2009 World Baseball Classic roster as the youngest Australian player in the tournament.
He debuted in the Twins organization in 2007 with the Gulf Coast League Twins, leading the team with 52 strikeouts, and was later named a Twins Top 50 prospect. In 2009 he pitched for the Single-A Beloit Snappers and the Rookie-Level Elizabethton Twins, going a combined 5-5 with a 3.55 ERA. He was selected for the 2010 All-Star Futures Game but missed it due to appendicitis, an early sign of the obstacles he would continue to face.
Liam Hendriks Career
Early Career (2007-2011)
Hendriks was called up to the Minnesota Twins from Triple-A Rochester on 5 September 2011 and finished his first major league season with an 0-2 record. He closed the year as the Twins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, an All-Star with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, and an organizational All-Star. He also received a second invitation to the All-Star Futures Game, marking him as one of the system’s most promising arms.
Following a strong spring training in 2012, Hendriks was named to the Twins’ starting rotation. On 19 September 2012, he earned his first Major League victory in a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians. His time in Minnesota ended in December 2013, when the Twins designated him for assignment to make room for new signing Phil Hughes.
Toronto Blue Jays First Stint (2014)
After a brief waiver passage through the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles, Hendriks was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays in February 2014. He opened the year in Triple-A Buffalo, where he went 5-0 with a 1.46 ERA in nine games. Recalled on 23 May 2014, he made his Blue Jays debut that day and earned a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics, allowing three hits and one earned run over 5 2/3 innings. He was later named the starter for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game, becoming the fourth Bisons pitcher to receive that honor, and was selected as the Top Star of the game.
Kansas City Royals (2014)
On 28 July 2014, Hendriks was traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Danny Valencia. He was recalled from Triple-A Omaha in August to make a start against his former team, the Minnesota Twins. The Royals designated him for assignment at the end of October, ending a brief but eventful American League Central tour.
Toronto Blue Jays Second Stint (2015)
Traded back to Toronto in October 2014, Hendriks moved to the bullpen full-time in 2015 and appeared in a career-high 58 games. He went 5-0 with a 2.92 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings. In Game Four of the 2015 American League Championship Series, he set a postseason record by recording 13 outs from 12 batters faced, breaking an 85-year-old mark previously held by Jim Lindsey. For that performance he was named Baseball Australia’s Male Player of the Year and a finalist for Western Australian Sports Star of the Year.
Oakland Athletics Era (2016-2020)
Traded to Oakland in November 2015, Hendriks was designated for assignment in June 2018 and sent outright to Triple-A Nashville before being recalled in September. The Athletics used him as their opener in the 2018 American League Wild Card Game, making him the first Australian-born player ever to start an MLB postseason game. In 2019, he took over as the closer after an injury to Blake Treinen and made his first All-Star team, finishing 4-4 with a 1.80 ERA, 25 saves, and 124 strikeouts in 85 innings. He continued to dominate in the shortened 2020 season, going 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA and 14 saves in 24 games, and earned All-MLB Second Team honors. He was also the Athletics’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2017 and 2019.
Chicago White Sox Era (2021-2023)
Hendriks signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Chicago White Sox in January 2021. He saved the 2021 All-Star Game at Coors Field, recorded an American League-leading 38 saves, and won his second consecutive Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award. He made the All-Star team again in 2022, finishing with a 2.81 ERA and 37 saves. He was also the White Sox nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2021, 2022, and 2023, making him a five-time nominee. In January 2023, Hendriks announced he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He completed chemotherapy in April 2023, announced he was cancer-free later that month, and returned to the mound on 29 May 2023. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2023 and became a free agent when the White Sox declined their option.
Boston Red Sox Era (2024-2025)
Hendriks signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in February 2024 and began the season on the 60-day injured list. He made his return on 19 April 2025, appearing in 14 games with a 6.59 ERA before right hip inflammation sent him back to the injured list. In September 2025, he underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery on his right elbow, and on 4 November 2025 the Red Sox declined his 2026 option, making him a free agent again.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hendriks is best known for his work as a late-inning reliever, combining a sharp breaking ball with a fastball that can reach the upper nineties. His preparation and calm demeanor on the mound have allowed him to thrive in high-leverage situations, while his adaptability has helped him serve as both a multi-inning reliever and a traditional closer throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his awards, Hendriks owns one of the most unusual postseason records in baseball history, recording 13 outs from 12 batters faced in the 2015 ALCS. He was also the first Australian-born pitcher to start an MLB postseason game in 2018, and his 2023 comeback from cancer treatment was widely celebrated across the sport.
Liam Hendriks Career Wins
While Hendriks built much of his legacy as a reliever, he has accumulated 33 career MLB wins alongside 116 saves through the 2025 season, according to verified figures. His win total reflects seasons where he served as a starting pitcher or multi-inning reliever, including stints with the Twins, Blue Jays, Royals, and Athletics.
Major League Highlights
Hendriks’s first Major League victory came on 19 September 2012 against the Cleveland Indians while pitching for the Minnesota Twins. His transition to a relief role with the Blue Jays in 2015 produced a 5-0 record and 2.92 ERA, and he posted an 8-3 mark with the White Sox in 2021. His overall MLB line stands at a 33-36 record, a 3.88 earned run average, 739 strikeouts, and 116 saves.
Other Wins and Performances
In the Australian Baseball League, Hendriks went 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA for the Perth Heat in the 2008 Claxton Shield and was named Rookie of the Year. He was also a key contributor for Team Australia in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, the 2017 World Baseball Classic roster, and the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Liam Hendriks Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hendriks comes from a sports-minded family rooted in Western Australia. His father, Geoff Hendriks, played more than 150 senior games for the West Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League, and his paternal grandparents emigrated to Australia from the Netherlands. The family’s strong connection to Australian rules football gave Liam an alternative athletic path before he chose baseball.
Personal Life
Hendriks married his wife, Kristi Hendriks, in 2013. Through Kristi, he became a devoted Montreal Canadiens fan, telling NHL Network in 2020 that he has watched every game and embraced the Habs lifestyle. He also supports the North Melbourne Football Club of the Australian Football League.
2025 Season Performance
Hendriks opened 2025 still recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in August 2023. He was activated by the Red Sox on 19 April 2025, marking his return to a major league mound nearly two years after his previous appearance. In 14 outings, he posted an 0-2 record with a 6.59 ERA and 12 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings, as he continued working his way back to peak form.
His season was interrupted on 30 May 2025, when right hip inflammation sent him back to the injured list, and he was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on 8 July 2025. In September 2025, he underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery on his right elbow, further complicating his return timeline.
On 4 November 2025, the Red Sox declined his 2026 option, returning him to free agency after two seasons in Boston. Despite the setbacks, Hendriks remained determined to continue his career, and his ongoing charity work, including his fifth Roberto Clemente Award nomination in 2024, highlighted his continued impact beyond the field.
