Hendriks activated off IL by Sox, returns to Majors after nearly 2-year hiatus

BOSTON -- Liam Hendriks will wear No. 31 when he takes the mound for the Red Sox for the first time, though 680 is the number on his mind.

Hendriks last pitched in a Major League game 680 days ago, June 9, 2023. The extended rehab from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow reached a notable resolution Saturday when the Red Sox activated him from the injured list. That number resonates with the veteran reliever. He even Googled it to be sure.

“That’s the exact number of days I was gone,” Hendriks said. “It feels like at least 1,000.”

That last outing came in a 2-1 victory for the White Sox -- who visit Boston this weekend -- in which Hendriks earned the win. The rehab process spanned quite some time for the three-time All-Star, American League Reliever of the Year from 2019-20 and AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2023, which further validates his chance to retake the mound in a big league atmosphere for the first time with the Red Sox.

“It’s been a long and arduous journey to get here, but now I’m here,” Hendriks said. “I can perform and go out there and do what these guys pay me to do.”

Uncertainties about what Hendriks could still be in his age-36 season swirled at times. Hendriks and Boston manager Alex Cora echoed concerns from Spring Training, when the right-hander allowed a noticeable volume of hard contact.

“Spring Training was a time I questioned my abilities a little bit more,” Hendriks admitted. “That was just mainly because I was lying to myself with my arm and trying to get through things.”

Those concerns quieted in Hendriks’ three rehab outings this season: He had five strikeouts in three innings between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester.

“I think I struck out more guys in the first game than I did all of Spring Training,” Hendriks added.

Hendriks signed a two-year deal with Boston before the 2024 season. His impact, even while sidelined with his injury, stood out to his peers, from mentoring pitchers to catching ceremonial first pitches and getting involved with The Jimmy Fund.

“He’s a great guy,” Cora said. “I know about the player, but everything they do as a family off the field. The guy, he gets it. When we signed him last year, there was a plan in place. Now, he’s here with us and we expect him to contribute.”

“Any time that you can add somebody with as much experience as he has, it’s going to help,” right-hander Justin Slaten said Saturday. “Whether it’s just talking about certain hitters in the game that they may have faced last year or years before, it’s definitely a huge help.”

Hendriks’ first outing should be interesting to experience for everyone. From screaming during bullpens to an unmistakable presence on the mound, it’s all about energy for the Red Sox reliever.

“If you’ve ever spent any time around Liam, you’d know that it’s the furthest thing from quiet and reserved,” Slaten added. “I’m expecting him to bring that same energy and same passion he’s brought for the entirety of his career. I don’t think that’s going to change here. You saw that in his first outing back in Spring Training, celebrating a huge accomplishment making it back on the mound. I think [his first regular-season outing] will be a lot more of the same.”

Cora noted the nature of the game will decide whether Hendriks' team debut comes Saturday or in the coming days. The veteran cannot wait to feel the adrenaline of the bullpen call, especially not knowing when the phone will ring.

“I have no clue, and that’s the way I want it,” Hendriks said.

“We have all the confidence in the world in him that he’s going to come back out here and show why everyone is so excited to have him back,” Slaten said.