Liam Hendriks, a two-time All-Star with the White Sox and one of the most beloved players from Chicago's last playoff team, has officially retired from baseball.
The last time the Chicago White Sox won a playoff game before Tuesday, it was the 2021 ALDS, when closer Liam Hendriks slammed the door on a Game 3 victory.
Perhaps the timing is only fitting, then.
As the MLB playoffs got underway Tuesday and the White Sox took Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, former White Sox relief pitcher and fan favorite Hendriks announced his retirement from baseball.
The 37-year-old spent three seasons in Chicago and made two All-Star teams with the White Sox in 2021 and 2022. He was also the American League saves leader in 2021, setting a career high with 38 saves and winning the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award.
Hendriks was already one of the best relief pitchers in baseball when he signed with the White Sox. He was an All-Star with the Oakland Athletics in 2019, posting a 1.80 ERA, and continued his reign as a lights-out closer with a 1.78 ERA in 2020. He also slammed the door on the White Sox during their 2020 Wild Card Series matchup against Oakland.
His three-year, $54 million contract with the White Sox in free agency represented a turning of the tide for Chicago. It was the organization planting its flag and making it clear that the White Sox meant business and intended to be a perennial postseason contender.
One of the final pieces missing from that roster was a lights-out closer, and Hendriks immediately filled that role.
Hendriks was always incredibly easy to root for. He energized the team with his fiery personality on the mound, was a great teammate and remained an active member of the community. That goes for his time in Chicago, as well as the many other cities he played in along the way, which is why Hendriks was ultimately a seven-time nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.
And even with everything Hendriks accomplished over the course of his career, there may not be a single achievement more impressive than his inspirational comeback from non-Hodgkin lymphoma during the 2023 season.
After his time with the White Sox, Hendriks made 14 appearances for the Boston Red Sox in 2025. He was with the Chicago Cubs in 2026, making five appearances in the minor leagues, but never received an opportunity at the MLB level and has now decided to hang up the cleats.
White Sox fans will always be appreciative of the memories and contributions Hendriks brought to the South Side, both on and off the field.
Hendriks serves as a fitting reminder of the last competitive White Sox team as the 2026 club battles through the postseason, looking for the organization's first playoff series victory since 2005.
