In 2018, Liam Hendriks was designated for assignment by the Oakland A’s, and no other MLB team chose to claim him for free. In 2019, he bounced back and rose to the level of an All-Star, becoming arguably the best relief pitcher in the majors. In 2020, he has taken it up even another notch, to the level of a mythical hero.
Hendriks posted ludicrous numbers this summer, even better than last year, and the A’s didn’t lose a game he appeared in until the meaningless season finale. In the first round of the playoffs he threw 49 pitches in a single game and then came back out the next day to save the series-clinching victory.