The Minnesota Twins have added veteran bullpen depth by signing three-time All-Star to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to major league spring training. The move gives the experienced right-hander an opportunity to compete for a roster spot as he continues his comeback journey.
Hendriks, who turned 37 this week, is no stranger to Minnesota. He originally broke into the majors with the Twins, making his MLB debut on September 6, 2011. Between 2011 and 2013, he appeared in 30 games for the organization before eventually carving out a highly successful career elsewhere. Over the years, Hendriks has experienced both elite performance and significant adversity, making his path back to the Twins a full-circle moment.
Last season with the Boston Red Sox, Hendriks struggled in limited action. He pitched in 14 games, posting a 6.59 ERA while going 0-2. Across 13 2/3 innings, he allowed seven walks and recorded 12 strikeouts. His season was cut short when he landed on the injured list with inflammation in his right hip. After suffering a setback, he missed the remainder of the campaign. In September, he underwent a right elbow ulnar nerve transposition procedure and later entered free agency in November.
The past few seasons have been particularly challenging for Hendriks. In early 2023, while with the Chicago White Sox, he underwent treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, he returned to the mound on May 29 of that year. However, his comeback was brief. Hendriks made just five appearances, going 2-0 with one save and a 5.40 ERA over five innings before an elbow injury required Tommy John surgery. That procedure sidelined him for the entire 2024 season as he focused on rehabilitation.
Despite the setbacks, Hendriks’ career résumé remains impressive. Across 490 regular-season games (including 44 starts), he owns a 33-36 record with 116 saves and a 3.88 ERA. Over 663 2/3 innings, he has struck out 739 batters while issuing 166 walks. In addition to his time with Minnesota and Boston, Hendriks has pitched for the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, and the White Sox.
From 2019 through 2022, Hendriks was among the most dominant relievers in baseball. He earned three All-Star selections during that stretch and, in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with Oakland, finished ninth in American League Cy Young Award voting and 13th in AL MVP voting—rare honors for a reliever.
In addition to Hendriks, Minnesota signed right-hander Julian Merryweather to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The 34-year-old owns a 6-7 career record with four saves and a 4.72 ERA in 152 appearances for the Blue Jays and the Chicago Cubs. Together, these signings provide the Twins with experienced bullpen options as they evaluate depth heading into the new season.
Leave a Reply