Chicago White Sox: 5 things to hope for this season
By Todd Welter
The Chicago White Sox can’t wait to have Liam Hendriks back on the mound.
There was a possibility Liam Hendriks was going to be traded this off-season. He was entering the final year of his contract and the Chicago White Sox have some options to close games. Hendriks had some value in the trade market.
That all got wiped out when Hendriks received some bad health news. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January.
Trade value means nothing now. All that matters is Hendriks getting better as soon as he can. In a terrible offseason, there would be no better story than Hendriks’ cancer going into remission and he returns to the mound by the end of the season.
Remission is the main goal for Hendriks. It is unknown if he will pitch this season.
Liam Hendriks is in "good spirits" as he continues to progress with his treatment for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Rick Hahn says, and he'll be around White Sox camp this spring.
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) February 15, 2023
There remains no timetable for Hendriks' return.https://t.co/olI83bm8wB pic.twitter.com/N6uuZjd2B9
Hendriks has been a great personality for the Sox and an even better closer. The Sox do have options at closer while Hendriks is out.
Kendall Graveman has been an effective closer. Reynaldo Lopez has the stuff to be an effective closer and he wants the role.
White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz said Reynaldo Lopez wants "to be a closer one day."
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) November 17, 2022
"He really loves the role he’s in, being a lockdown guy in the bullpen, he really thrived at that, I think he really enjoys that," Katz said.
Even with the depth at closer, it would have been nice to have Hendriks available at the start of the season. Now, it would just be nice for Hendriks to get through his treatment and hear from his doctors that he is cancer free.