Twins’ insider puts the pressure on Liam Hendriks to step up this season originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Liam Hendriks has already had quite the career in the big leagues. He is a three-time All-Star, two-time All-MLB First Team, two-time AL Reliever of the Year, AL Saves Leader, and the 2023 AL Comeback Player of the Year for returning after battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
While many would be happy with that type of career, Hendriks is not done yet. He signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins after declining the Boston Red Sox‘s 2026 option.
The club would love for him to work as the team’s closer this season, but there were some question marks early this spring.
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Twins’ insider puts the pressure on Liam Hendriks to step up this season
Hendriks was one of the last pitchers in camp to appear in an actual exhibition game. And when he did, his fastball velocity was down a bit.
That is cause for concern, but he is having a solid spring. He should make the Opening Day roster, and with some of the underperformances other relievers have had, Twins insider Matthew Leach puts the pressure on Hendriks to step up and deliver.
“Eric Orze, someone I was very excited about, has walked six batters in 6 2/3 innings. Justin Topa has been hit pretty hard. Cole Sands has looked decent and Zak Kent is intriguing, but I remain convinced that they’re at least one pitcher short on the right side. If Liam Hendriks really turns it on, he could be that guy, but while he’s improving, he hasn’t shown closer form yet.”
Minnesota could have used another right-handed arm, but that’s too late to think about now, unless they want to part ways with guys in a trade. So, it will be on Hendriks to return to the form that made him a three-time All-Star, or the Twins could be in trouble.
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