On Monday, Liam Hendriks, the White Sox closer, announced that he would start Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment.
On Sunday, Hendriks released the following statement on his personal Instagram account.
“As a professional athlete, I’ve always tried to use my fame for good by bringing attention to issues that affect my wife, my family, and me personally. In that spirit, and on my terms, I’d like to share some recent developments regarding my health that I’ve learned about.”
“My Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was recently identified. My wife and I were as shocked as millions of other families every year upon hearing the word “Cancer” for the first time. But I’m determined to fight through it and get through this new obstacle with the same tenacity I’ve shown in overcoming previous challenges in my life.”
“I am confident I will recover and return to the mound as soon as possible. My treatment starts tomorrow. I am confident that I will overcome this with the help of my wife, my family, my teammates, the Chicago White Sox organization, and the treatment and care from my doctors. “
In February, Hendriks, who turns 34, It has less to do with the right-hander being one of the best closers in the game and much more to do with how Liam and his wife, Kristi, began giving back to the people of Chicago and its surrounding areas as soon as they arrived. 10, who joined the White Sox via free agency before the 2021 season, has been a force in the organization since his arrival.
As the Hendriks family navigated his free agency process, the question of giving back became a crucial component of the family’s interviews with prospective teams.
In a 2021 interview, Kristi Hendriks stated, “We said it’s vital for us to be able to immerse ourselves in the community on all of the Zoom meetings we had with all of the teams we met with. We think volunteering and giving back is the best way to go about it.”
“By using Liam’s platform, we like to draw attention to events in the neighborhood. We completely missed the mark if we didn’t use the platform presented to him when it was available. And it was just so simple for us. “
Hendriks was chosen to represent the White Sox as the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award nominee, a distinction that was as gratifying as any prize he had previously received. Although he is a fierce competitor, he also has a strong presence in the White Sox clubhouse and knows how to make his teammates have fun.
Rick Hahn, senior vice president and general manager of the White Sox, issued the following statement following Hendriks’ declaration.
“Not Liam, the baseball player, but Liam, the person, is what we think and feel right now. I am confident that the Chicago White Sox organization, our staff, his teammates, and undoubtedly White Sox supporters will come together to support Liam and Kristi throughout the upcoming months.”
“Given our knowledge of everyone involved, especially Liam, we are confident he will pitch once more for the White Sox as soon as is practical. While respecting their privacy, we will all do everything we can to help our teammate and his family through this difficult time.”
“At the earliest, Opening Day is the earliest that we anticipate receiving any updates on Liam’s playing status. “