Veteran closer to throw first bullpen since undergoing Tommy John surgery
Red Sox veteran right-hander Liam Hendriks will throw his first bullpen since undergoing Tommy John surgery later this week, according to Alex Cora.
Boston signed Hendriks on Feb. 20 to a two-year, $10 million deal, with the potential to earn another $10 million in performance bonuses.
Hendriks hopes he can return to the game and make his Red Sox debut after the trade deadline later this summer. Whatever Hendriks can give to the Red Sox will be gravy this season. It is widely expected that he will become the closer for the 2025 season, with Kenley Jansen a free agent at season's end.
The Red Sox reportedly “have no interest in bringing” Jansen back for next season, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Hendriks owns 116 career saves, including a league-leading 38 in 2021. He had 37 saves during the 2022 season before missing most of 2023 when he was treated for Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He returned to appear in five games for the White Sox last year before undergoing Tommy John surgery on Aug. 2.
The 35-year-old was a low-risk signing for the Red Sox in the offseason and could help a club that’s in playoff contention. From 2019–22, Hendriks won two AL Rivera Reliever awards and earned three All-Star selections. He also received AL Cy Young votes in both 2020 and ‘21.
