“It’s Really Hard to…”: Chicago White Sox Pitcher Liam Hendriks Details the Touching Gesture That Made His Return to the Mound Emotional

Recovering from a deadly disease is not easy. But Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks won his battle against Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in no time. The super relief pitcher was diagnosed in January and had his last treatment in April. Most recently, he returned to the mound and a touching gesture made his comeback emotional. 

It has been a difficult few months for the White Sox pitcher, but he has had his family by his side every step of the way. As he took the mound, his teammates and rivals made him emotional with a kind gesture. 

Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks was left emotional as he made a comeback to the mound

Liam Hendriks has made a full recovery from cancer. He was seen practicing his throws and getting back into shape after recovery. But most recently, Hendriks’ comeback to the mound in a Minor League game became emotional for him. The White Sox pitcher said that as he stepped up to the mound, players and coaches from both teams started clapping for him. This threw him off and left him feeling a bit emotional. Hendriks recalled the moment in an interview after the game. Talkin’ Baseball shared a snippet of the interview on Twitter.

In the interview, Hendriks said, “I threw my warm-up pitches and then they made a PA announcement and both teams got out and started clapping. Which, don’t get me wrong, it’s really really nice and I very much appreciated it, it made me very emotional. But, I’m a guy who pitches on anger and it’s really hard to get angry when you know the other team is full of nice people that would do something like that.” 

Read More: “The Comeback Continues!”: Liam Hendriks’ Stunning Return After Cancer Takes a New Form That Leaves Fans in Awe

It is heartwarming to see how his teammates and even rivals respect the battle that he went through. But even when he was recovering, Hendriks made an effort to be around baseball and his teammates. This happened during Spring Training as well.

Hendriks was a regular presence at Spring Training

Liam Hendriks did not use his battle with cancer as an excuse to rest. The Chicago White Sox pitcher was regularly seen in the bullpen and cheering his team on during Spring Training. Even during Spring games, he would be there watching his teammates play. This shows a determination and love for the game, as the star reliever was with his team whenever possible.

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What do you think of the touching gesture by teammates and opponents during Liam Hendriks’ comeback? Kindly share your thoughts in the comments below.