As Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks started heaving long tosses early in his recovery from a shoulder injury, he noticed something had changed.
Hendricks, a finesse pitcher who doesn’t overpower hitters, could see right away that his velocity had ticked up a few notches.
“I knew it was harder than I probably threw on the mound,” Hendricks said Wednesday at Principal Park. “So I knew I had to be feeling strong and healthy.”
Hendricks will find out how good his stuff is Thursday when he makes his first rehabilitation start with the Iowa Cubs at 12:08 pm at Principal Park. The right-hander, who hasn’t pitched in a game since last July, will throw three innings (or approximately 55 pitches) against the Louisville Bats.
“I’m excited to get in a game with some competition, a little adrenaline, and see what I actually have,” Hendricks said.
The return to the mound has been a long time coming for Hendricks, who has been a mainstay in Chicago’s rotation since making his big-league debut in 2014. Hendricks is 87-61 in nine seasons with the Cubs and was a key component of Chicago’s 2016 World Series championship team.
More: World Series winner Kyle Hendricks to make rehab start with Iowa Cubs Thursday
Hendricks made just 16 starts last season and went on the injured list with what was then categorized as a right shoulder strain. Doctors later discovered a capsular tear in the shoulder. His road to recovery kept Hendricks off the mound for the remainder of last season and the start of the 2023 season.
The time away proved beneficial for Hendricks who, with the help of the Cubs medical staff, was able to come up with a new warm-up routine before games. Hendricks implemented a weighted ball program that team officials hope will help keep him healthy and strengthen his shoulder.
“It’s a great warm-up,” Hendricks said. “So I come out and I’m ready to take advantage of (the first pitch).”
The new routine may have been a contributing factor to an improvement in velocity for Hendricks, who touched 90 mph during a simulated game in Arizona recently. Hendricks will never be a fireballer, but even a small uptick in speed can be helpful when facing big-league hitters.
“I definitely looked at this (the time off) as an opportunity,” Hendricks said. “I had so much time down that it was an opportunity to look at what I could improve and what could get better and that was a big part of it.”
Hendricks is eager to get back and help Chicago. He said he’s closely watched the Cubs and their strong start to the season (13-9 entering Wednesday). It was tough for Hendricks when the Cubs broke camp in spring training and began the season while he stayed back in Arizona to keep rehabbing.
“It was very difficult, obviously,” Hendricks said. “You want to be part of it. You just want to be part of the fun and the action. But I knew the time would come.”
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at [email protected] or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Chicago Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks hopes new pregame routine makes him better