Liam Hendriks underwent MRI on elbow and ‘probably’ won’t pitch for Red Sox until 2025
It was a long shot for Liam Hendriks to pitch for the Red Sox this season.
Hendriks, who recently felt elbow soreness following a rehab outing with the WooSox, is “probably” going to be shutdown completely from throwing in the coming days, Alex Cora told the media on Thursday.
“He had the MRI. Nothing structural,” Cora said. “They sent it to the doctor in Texas (Dr. Keith Meister), the one who performed the surgery. He’s taking a look at it and he’s going to let us know. But it seems like probably we’re going to shut him down.”
The right-hander last pitched for Triple-A Worcester on Sept. 5 and had an MRI to determine what was going on with his throwing elbow. The Sox expect that the issue Hendriks is dealing with is a minor one.
“We’re still kind of in a holding pattern here,” said Cora of Hendriks on Wednesday. “As you know, we’re running out of time. At one point, we have to make a decision on what we’re going to do. That’s not expected, but it was always part of the process. It was always (a possibility) that that situation comes up, and we have to be smart about it.”
Hendriks made a total of six rehab appearances split between the Sea Dogs and WooSox, logging five shutout frames while allowing four hits and striking out three batters. The veteran initially was targeting a return to the bigs in last weekend’s series against his former team, the White Sox. Hendriks elbow didn’t bounce back like the team and he would have liked, and the Sox began to proceed with caution.
“Soreness in the outside part of the forearm,” Cora said. “It doesn’t have to do with the surgery. It’s probably just part of the process.”
The Australian native signed a two-year, $10 million deal during spring training with Boston. With All-Star closer Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin on expiring contracts, Hendriks could slide into the closer role in 2025. The three-time All-Star has 116 career saves, and outside any free agent or trade acquisition (which, obviously, there will be), he has the most experience in that role.
“It’s good to have him. It’s important,” Cora said. “There was a reason he was here, because he wanted to be here. He had options. Signing him for two years was a good move by the front office.”
