Overview
- Hendriks announced his retirement on Tuesday, saying his arm “has exactly zero fastballs left” and his elbow now requires long recovery after throwing.
- The Australian reliever leaves baseball after 14 major-league seasons with a 3.88 ERA across 490 games and 663 2/3 innings, and three All-Star selections.
- He rose from struggling starter to elite bullpen closer, winning back-to-back American League Reliever of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021 and leading the AL in saves during that stretch.
- Hendriks’ late career was shaped by major health setbacks: a January 2023 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis followed by chemotherapy, Tommy John surgery in August 2023, an ulnar nerve transposition in 2025, and short 2026 minor-league comeback attempts.
- Beyond his on-field record, Hendriks built a public legacy through Hendriks’ Heroes and seven Roberto Clemente Award nominations, leaving a lasting impact on cancer charities and young Australian ballplayers.