Australian pitcher Liam Hendriks, currently with the Chicago White Sox in US Major League Baseball, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Australian pitcher Liam Hendriks, currently on a $US54 million ($78m) contract with the Chicago White Sox in US Major League Baseball, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Hendriks, 33 and from Perth, made the announcement on Instagram on Monday (AEDT). He said that he was confident of beating the illness.
“Hearing the word ‘Cancer’ came as a shock to my wife and I, as it does to millions of families each year,” Hendriks wrote. “However, I am resolved to embrace the fight and overcome this new challenge with the same determination I have used when facing other obstacles in my life.
“My treatment begins tomorrow, and I am confident that I will make a full recovery and be back on the mound as soon as possible. I know with the support of my wife, my family, my teammates and the Chicago White Sox Organization, along with the treatment and care from my doctors, I will get through this.”
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement: “Our thoughts and reactions at this time are for Liam the person, not Liam the baseball player.
“I know the entire Chicago White Sox organization, our staff, his teammates, and certainly White Sox fans, will rally in support of Liam and Kristi during the coming months. Knowing everyone involved, especially Liam, we are optimistic he will pitch again for the White Sox as soon as viable. In the meantime, we all will do everything in our power to support our teammate and his family as they face this challenge, while also respecting their privacy.”
According to the US National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is 73.8 percent.
Hendriks is a three-time All-Star, two-time American League reliever of the year and has twice been named to the All-MLB First Team.
He broke into the majors with the Minnesota Twins in 2011 and has since gone on to pitch at the major league level for the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox.
His last contract with the White Sox, signed in 2021, was valued at $US54 million for three seasons. He is regarded among the premier closers in the majors and had recently been the subject of trade speculation.
Hendriks was an elite Australian Rules footballer in his youth and his father, Geoff, played 170 senior games for West Perth in the WAFL.
Hendriks represented WA at the junior level and was named in the same under 15s All-Australian team that featured Patty Mills, who also went on to find fame and fortune in another sport in the US.
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