Red Sox Reliever Opens Up About Role Coming Off Missed 2024 Season

Liam Hendriks is slated to be a key component of the Boston Red Sox’s bullpen in 2025, coming off a missed 2024 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

Even though the team’s already added left-handed relievers Justin Wilson and Aroldis Champman this offseason, Hendriks is expected to be called upon a lot by Red Sox manager Alex Cora once the season commences. The 35-year-old is among Boston’s candidates for the closer’s role — depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolds — and Hendriks isn’t expecting a handout anytime soon.

“But I also don’t want it to be given to me,” Hendriks said at a community event in Boston Thursday, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “I am completely OK with the competition. I actually prefer the competition because I want to make sure I can test myself.”

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Hendriks made six appearances in Boston’s minor league system, pitching twice for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs and four times for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox. The right-hander strived toward making an improbable comeback before the team wrapped up its 81-81 season, allowing no runs off two hits through five innings of work while striking out three batters.

It’s been over a year since Hendriks has stepped foot on a big league mound, as the 13-year veteran last did so for the Chicago White Sox in 2023. That season, the three-time All-Star made five appearances, notching a 5.40 ERA across five innings.

Hendriks remains committed to working this offseason to regain full strength before the Red Sox regroup for spring training in over two months.

“I threw a bullpen yesterday at BC,” Hendriks revealed, per Smith. “It’s my second bullpen of the offseason. Everything is going well and we’re moving forward pretty well.”

Regardless of what role Hendriks will be asked to fulfill, the Red Sox will need a comeback-like 2025 campaign out of the two-time American League Reliever of the Year. Hendriks already took home the 2023 AL Comeback Player of the Year and could add a second to his resume pending the results of this upcoming year.