Beloved and hardworking, and one of the most lovable players not only on the White Sox, but in all of baseball — that’s Chicago closer Liam Hendriks. So as much as it was devastating when Hendriks announced earlier this year that he had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, it was only a sign of not only what a tough and trying year it would be for him.
Hendriks, despite all the obstacles he faced, fought to not only beat cancer, but miraculously pitch and make his season debut for the Sox on May 29 at Guaranteed Rate Field. He pitched in four more games after that, recording his first save since returning on June 6 at Yankee Stadium.