GLENDALE — Chicago White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz had to fight back tears Saturday while discussing closer Liam Hendriks' recent cancer diagnosis. «He's special and everyone in that clubhouse knows that,» Katz said while choking up.
Hendriks, 34, announced in early January that he's receiving treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, but that hasn't prevented him from being around the team during spring training.
He even threw in the bullpen on Friday. «It brought a lot of joy to be able to see him,» Katz said. «He's a special person. Having him around is great.» Hendriks has also been an «inspiration» to his teammates, who say he has the same attitude as ever: upbeat and positive. «He's been around just about every day,» pitcher Lucas Giolito said. «Same exact spirits, same exact Liam that we all know and love.» There's no timetable for Hendriks' full return to baseball, but the team says he's been staying in shape and is hopeful to have some clarity by Opening Day.
In the meantime, the White Sox need to fill his role in the back end of the bullpen. «He'll be back on the field as soon as he can,» Katz said. «We have a long time to piece it together.