Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks faced a tough loss against the New York Mets, with a score of 5-1 at Fenway Park on Wednesday. He was credited with the loss after conceding three runs from three hits. The following morning, Hendriks took to social media to reveal that he and his wife had received threatening messages from fans.
“Receiving death threats towards my wife and me is both horrifying and cruel. People really need help,” he shared on his Instagram story. “It’s offensive and downright sleazy when someone tells me to commit suicide or wishes for me to die from cancer.” He added a note to those sending such messages: perhaps they should take a moment to reflect on their lives instead of hiding behind screens to attack players and their families.
In January 2023, Hendriks announced that he had been diagnosed with non-cancerous Hodgkin lymphoma. After returning to the mound five months ago, he played for the Chicago White Sox but this season has been rocky. Following just a few appearances, he underwent Tommy John surgery. In 2024, the Red Sox signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract while he rehabilitated, but he missed the entire last season.
As for his performance, this season has been a struggle. He currently holds a 5.56 ERA over 11 games. With a 14-year career behind him, Hendriks has a record of 33-35, an ERA of 3.85, and 738 strikeouts across 661.1 innings pitched. It’s interesting—he seems to carry a mix of experience and frustration. Has he reached a tipping point in his career? Questions linger in the air.
