The Boston Red Sox on August 3 gave injury updates on two recovering pitchers, Liam Hendriks and Patrick Sandoval. The update wasn't great for either arm, as the team announced neither would likely pitch again in 2025.
Alex Cora's report on Hendriks was quickly debunked, however. The reliever spoke to reporters before Boston's August 4 series opening game against the Royals and cleared the air around his lingering injury. He's been on the injured list since May 28 with hip inflammation, and fully expects to be back in action this year, contrary to Cora's report.
“It’s way too early to say I won’t pitch this year,” Hendriks said (via Chris Cotillo of MassLive). “If everything goes well, I will definitely pitch this year as long we keep moving in that direction. I spoke to A.C. about it and it was just a slip of the tongue. He apologized and we’re moving on.”
Hendriks also told reporters that he was surprised to hear Cora's update that he wouldn't pitch again this season.
“I was like, ‘OK, let me read this thing.’ That was frustrating. It was like, ‘Have they not told me anything that’s going on? Am I out of the loop? What’s going on?’ Everyone I’ve spoken to about this has said, ‘No, we’re pushing to get you back this year,’" Hendriks said.
Liam Hendriks contradicts Red Sox's report that he won't pitch again this year
If the Red Sox did tell Hendriks they'd push for him to pitch again this year, Cora's August 4 report is a strange slip of the tongue. Hendriks hasn't pitched exceptionally well this season, but Boston should want all the bullpen depth it can get in the second half.
This isn't the first time Hendriks has expressed discontent with the team for its poor communication. A few days before his IL stint began, Hendriks told reporters that he was unsure of his role in the bullpen and he had "multiple conversations" with the Red Sox about his usage. Poor communication seems to be a running theme among Boston's management this year, between Hendriks and Rafael Devers.
Hendriks, one of MLB's most dominant closers of his time, was used to being the go-to option in the ninth inning. A UCL surgery later, and his position in the bullpen has changed. Hendriks has surrendered 10 earned runs on 12 hits over 13.2 innings pitched in 2025, good for a 6.59 ERA.
Hendriks finding his pre-Tommy John surgery self (or anything close to it) would be an ideal outcome for the Red Sox, who are strapped for bullpen depth after a lackluster trade deadline performance. The longtime closer seems confident he can return to action, and Boston would surely like to see him pitch more than 13.2 innings over his two-year tenure with the team.