Liam Hendriks undergoes Tommy John surgery months after return from non-Hodgkin lymphoma

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Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks underwent successful surgery Wednesday morning to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow – known as Tommy John surgery – and will need 12 to 14 months to recover. 

Hendriks was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 11 with right elbow inflammation. He appeared in five games during the 2023 MLB season, ending the year with a 5.40 ERA in five innings. 

Liam Hendriks, #31 of the Chicago White Sox, reacts against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 29, 2023 in Chicago. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Hendriks' surgery comes just two months after returning to the mound following his battle with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In early April, he underwent his final round of chemotherapy, and on April 20, he officially announced he was "cancer free."  

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He returned to action on May 29 against the Los Angeles Angels, taking the field to a standing ovation from the Chicago crowd. 

"Truly a testament to his hard work and commitment the fact that we’re even having this conversation in May," general manager Rick Hahn said. "When we initially got the initial prognosis, I don’t think anyone would have been shocked if the response to a stage 4 lymphoma diagnosis was we weren’t going to see the guy pitch this year. Or if we initially announced ‘Hey, he’s probably going to be gone till at least the All-Star break,’ I don’t think anyone would have batted an eye with that timeline."

Liam Hendriks, #31 of the Chicago White Sox, reacts after getting a strikeout to end the top