Liam Hendriks’ miracle journey back to the majors has hit a snag.
Just two weeks after returning following cancer treatment, the White Sox closer was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday because of elbow inflammation.
Though Hendriks has no structural damage, he believes chemotherapy treatments could have played a role in his injury.
“I think the potential of the chemo still being in my system and not kind of letting me recover as well as I would have hoped — I think that has some merit to it,” Hendriks said, per ESPN.
“But honestly we won’t really know. It’s unfortunate the way it went about, but hopefully it’s a minimal stint on the IL and we can get back there as soon as I can.”
Hendriks, according to multiple outlets, received a cortisone shot Sunday and is scheduled for a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow later this week — both of which he had to get approved by his oncologist as he is still in remission from stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The 34-year-old hurler was diagnosed in December, began his treatment in January and completed his final round of chemotherapy on April 3.
He confirmed on social media he was cancer free just a few weeks later.
“So I’ll see you guys on the South Side soon. Play ball,” Hendriks said as he rang the bell marking the conclusion of his treatments.
He made good on his promise, making a memorable return during a May 30 game against the Angels in Chicago.
Hendriks has appeared in five games this season, holding a 2-0 record with a 5.40 ERA while registering one save, which came against the Yankees on June 6.
Read Related Also: Cost of missing Titan sub search will easily stretch into millions of dollars
Nevertheless, Hendriks’ velocity has dipped nearly two miles per hour since his return, sitting at 95.5 MPH compared to 97.8 in 2022, according to Fangraphs.
The three-time All-Star told reporters he felt discomfort in early May before embarking on a rehab assignment with Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte.
“It’s been sore for the last few weeks, ever since before my rehab assignment it was barking,” Hendriks said. “But my mantra is to keep pitching through anything until I can’t.”
Hendriks recorded six outings during his rehab with the Knights, allowing six runs in five frames.
Once he was back in the majors, Hendriks’ elbow pain got worse — to the point that the righty could not make his hand into a first, per ESPN.
“The last three outings,” Hendriks said, “it was constant pain every time I picked up a ball and threw it.”
A well-traveled veteran with 13 years of MLB experience, Hendriks is no stranger to injury, including a flexor strain that cost him one month of action last season.
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn echoed Hendriks’ sentiments over the weekend — hoping that Hendriks’ diagnosis and recovery require a short stint on the shelf.
But the pitcher is prioritizing his health in the long term.
“This year, it’s making sure I get everything handled as far as health-wise,” Hendriks said. “It’s making sure everything is taken care of in the right way. I need to be cognizant of the way my body reacts and feels with everything, just due to the fact I still don’t have the strongest immune system.
“There’s a lot of other things going on in my body.”
