‘Antsy’ Boston Red Sox reliever pitches for first time in ’681 days’ (2025)

BOSTON — Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks’ first outing since June 9, 2023, didn’t go as well as he hoped.

The 36-year-old allowed three hits in the eighth inning, including a 405-foot, 110.5 mph two-run homer to White Sox’ Andrew Vaughn who connected on a 96 mph fastball.

But Hendriks said “it was good” to finally pitch in a big league game after so long.

Hendriks missed most of 2023 battling Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He returned to appear in five games for the White Sox before undergoing Tommy John surgery last Aug. 2. He spent the entire 2024 season rehabbing.

“Six-hundred and eighty-one days now, but (expletive) Vaughn," Hendriks said after the Red Sox’ 8-4 loss to Chicago on Sunday here at Fenway Park.

The righty was trying to throw a fastball inside to Vaughn but he left it over the middle of the plate.

“There were some good things to take from it. There were some not so great things to take from it," Hendriks said. “Now I can say I’ve been out there. Now I can say I’ve pitched for the Boston Red Sox, even though it was yellow. And yeah, now we go.”

The Red Sox were wearing their yellow alternative uniforms. That was what Hendriks was referencing when he said yellow.

“Now there’s no sentimental value to anything like that. It’s now I’ve gotta perform,” Hendriks said.

What good did he take from the outing?

“Swings and misses on sliders and curveballs and that sort of stuff was good,” Hendriks said. “Getting back out there, not being too exhausted after the run in, good. Just little things like that. Like getting out there and keeping the emotions somewhat in check was a good thing. Obviously you take away two hits and a homer, but other than that, I still got three outs.”

Hendriks induced three swings-and-misses with his slider and one with his curveball. His fastball was up to 96.3 mph.

"Definitely antsy," he said about waiting for his turn while in the bullpen.

Boston activated him from the IL before Saturday’s game.

“Antsy both yesterday and today before getting the call,” he said. “Once the call came, it was just trying to get ready and trying to get locked in and do all that sort of stuff.”