After returning to the mound last week, only five months removed from starting treatment for Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Chicago White Sox hurler Liam Hendriks discussed his battle for the first time, disclosing a terrifying revelation.
Diagnosed in December, Hendriks told reporters he noticed lumps on his neck and enlarging growths on his hips in June of last year, leading him to believe he potentially pitched the entire 2022 season with cancer.
"There's no way to put a real timeline on it," Hendriks said, via the White Sox. "But if I had the ones on my neck in June and the ones on my hips were bigger, there was always the chance I pitched damn near all year with lymphoma in my system."
Despite possibly playing last season with cancer, Hendriks finished the year 4-4 with a 2.81 ERA and 37 saves, receiving his third All-Star nod.
Following the most challenging months of his life, Hendriks sat wearing a shirt that read "Struck Out Cancer," fitting for the veteran right-hander who returned to work last Friday, striking out four in an extended spring training contest in Arizona.
Meanwhile in Arizona...
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 28, 2023
Liam Hendriks strikes out FOUR! pic.twitter.com/3Z9PCEgRl2
On Wednesday, the White Sox announced that Hendriks would make four of five rehab outings with Triple-A Charlotte beginning this weekend. That means a return to the major league mound for Hendriks is quickly approaching, which could offer the struggling White Sox a boost. Winners of two in a row entering play Wednesday, Chicago is still near the bottom of the AL Central at 9-21.
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