Just months after revealing his cancer diagnosis, Liam Hendriks returned to the mound Monday night in Chicago.
The White Sox made their season debut in their 6-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in what was an incredible and emotional scene at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Hendriks, who announced in January that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, took the mound in the eighth inning for a massive standing ovation.
Hendriks then landed a strike on his very first pitch. That ball was instantly taken out of rotation for him.
Hendriks only pitched one inning. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk.
The 34-year-old first revealed he had been diagnosed with a form of lymphatic system cancer in January. He completed his chemotherapy treatments in early April, then announced he was . In early May, the White Sox sent him to a .
THE .
“He looked strong tonight,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. . “I’m sure he will look stronger next time.”
Although the White Sox fell Monday night and Hendriks’ performance wasn’t great, that doesn’t really matter considering what he’s been through in recent months.
Hendriks is back on the mound. It’s all that matters.