Liam Hendriks Unlikely To Be Primary Closing Option
MassLive's Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam write that Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks appears to be behind left-hander Aroldis Chapman for closing duties to begin the 2025 regular season, even though he has seemingly corrected some of the command issues he had early in camp. Second-year right-hander Justin Slaten will also be an option for the BoSox in late-inning, high-leverage situations. As things stand right now, Chapman and Slaten are ahead of Hendriks, who has allowed six earned runs on 12 hits (two homers) while walking none and striking out four in five appearances in the Grapefruit League. The 36-year-old Australian is a three-time All-Star and has 116 career MLB saves over 13 seasons, though, so he's still going to be a key member of Boston's bullpen in 2025. He just isn't much of a target for save speculators right now.
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks (elbow) was up to 96 mph on the radar gun in his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday versus the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays while tossing a scoreless inning. It was Hendriks' first game action since a minor-league rehab appearance last June. The 36-year-old veteran allowed a single and struck out one in the outing as he looks to bounce back in 2025 after not pitching at all in the big leagues last year following Tommy John surgery in 2023. The Australian native is a three-time All-Star and has 116 saves in his 13-year MLB career, so he'll be in Boston's competition for saves this season alongside Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock. A closer committee is entirely possible, which won't help fantasy managers, but if Hendriks' velocity can stay around 96-97 mph, he should be interesting as a cheap bullpen arm in holds leagues.
MLB.com's Ian Browne writes that the Boston Red Sox competition for the closer job will start in spring training on Wednesday against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays when right-hander Liam Hendriks and left-hander Aroldis Chapman are both scheduled to pitch. Justin Slaten, who is also competing for the closer's role, is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Tuesday. Right-hander Garrett Whitlock will also be competing for high-leverage duties at the back of Boston's bullpen, and it's possible the Red Sox will eventually settle on a committee approach, which will make things even more difficult for fantasy managers speculating on save chances in this bullpen. Chapman figures to be the favorite if he's healthy. Hendriks has plenty of experience (116 career saves), but the Australian is 36 years old and didn't pitch at all in 2024 due to injury.
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks was sitting at 93-94 mph during his live batting practice session at camp on Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey. Injuries have taken a toll on Hendriks in recent seasons (primarily Tommy John surgery in 2023), and while he may not throw as hard as he did earlier in his career, the 36-year-old Australian is fully healthy this spring and should play a key late-inning, high-leverage role in Boston's bullpen this year. Manager Alex Cora thinks Hendrik's velocity will continue to trend up as Opening Day in late March approaches. Although there isn't a ton of fantasy upside here, the Red Sox could go with a closer committee in 2025, giving Hendriks the opportunity for some save opportunities. Expect fewer strikeouts but a decent amount of holds and a handful of saves in 2025.
Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said on Monday that veteran right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks (elbow) is on track for a normal spring training in 2025. In addition to having a normal spring, the 35-year-old Australian should be "fully healthy" for the start of the regular season, giving the BoSox an experienced high-leverage reliever at the back of their bullpen. Although Hendriks hasn't been healthy in recent seasons and has also battled cancer, he is a three-time All-Star and has 116 career saves over 13 big-league seasons, so he could be firmly in play for the closer's role to begin the year. Hendriks is recovering from Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch at all last year, though, so he could struggle with efficiency and velocity early on next season. As of right now, his biggest competition for closing duties will come from veteran lefty Aroldis Chapman.
Liam Hendriks Likely To Be Shut Down For Rest Of Season
Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks (elbow) is likely to be shut down for the rest of the season, according to manager Alex Cora. "Basically where we're at right now we'll probably shut him down. We've got nine games in the regular season so it's going to be hard to get him going again," Cora said. Hendriks has been working all season to return from Tommy John surgery but recently suffered a minor setback a couple weeks ago. With Boston four games back from a wild-card spot, it appears the better game plan is to have Hendriks aim for a 2025 return. The 35-year-old hasn't pitched in a major-league game since June 2023 but has been effective when healthy. Boston will need a healthy Hendriks to produce in 2025 and help a bullpen that ranks 26th in the majors with a 4.53 ERA. Fantasy managers looking for bullpen help to finish the season should look to Boston reliever Josh Winckowski, as he's posted a 3.18 ERA and recorded two saves in September for the Red Sox.
Liam Hendriks Suffers Minor Setback, Still Convinced He'll Return
Despite suffering a minor setback in his rehab that prevented him from making back-to-back appearances this week, Boston Red Sox veteran right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks (elbow) said he remains convinced he will return in 2024. Hendriks thinks he can be effective to close out the year and expects his stuff to bounce back to pre-Tommy John surgery levels in 2025. The 35-year-old Aussie is under contract with Boston next year as well and should be expected to be a key piece as a late-inning setup man. However, it remains to be seen if he'll even pitch in the big leagues down the stretch this year with the Red Sox fighting for the final spot in the American League wild-card race. The three-time All-Star has 116 career saves in his 13 years in the big leagues, but he has appeared in just five games in the last two years.
Liam Hendriks Set To Pitch Again On Sunday, Nearing Major League Return
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks (elbow) is set to make another rehab appearance on Sunday and could return to the major leagues as early as the first or second week of September, according to MLB.com. Hendriks underwent Tommy John surgery last August and has looked quite sharp through his first innings of rehab work. The right-hander logged one shutout inning at Double-A and has recently moved up to Triple-A, where he has tossed three innings of one-hit ball. The 35-year-old is likely to take on a high-leverage role when he returns to the major leagues and should see plenty of save opportunities down the stretch as Boston remains in the Wild Card race. Fantasy managers looking to find more saves on the waiver wire should consider stashing Hendriks as he nears the end of his rehab assignment.
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks (elbow) looked strong in his fourth minor-league rehab appearance on Wednesday night, throwing a scoreless inning for Triple-A Worcester, giving up no hits while walking one and striking out one. Hendriks will make a fifth rehab appearance again on Friday and is trending in the right direction to make his Red Sox debut in the first or second week of September. The 35-year-old veteran is making his return from Tommy John surgery and should be able to give the BoSox plenty of experience in a late-inning setup role down the stretch in front of closer Kenley Jansen as they push for a wild-card spot in the American League. The Aussie reliever has been an All-Star three times in his 13-year career and holds 116 career saves under his belt.
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks (elbow) remains on track to make his Red Sox debut in September, around 13 months removed from having Tommy John surgery. Hendriks has made three minor-league rehab appearances (one for Triple-A Worcester, two for Double-A Portland) since Aug. 18 and will continue his progression this week for Worcester on Wednesday and Friday. The 35-year-old Aussie allowed an unearned run and struck out two in two-thirds of an inning in his outing with Portland on Sunday, throwing 13 of his 19 pitches for strikes. Hendriks, who has 116 career saves in 13 big-league seasons with five different teams, should become an experienced late-inning setup option in front of closer Kenley Jansen to wrap up the final month of the regular season in September.
Liam Hendriks
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Red Sox
