White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks will be honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2023 ESPYs later this year.
Hendriks, 34, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma earlier in 2023. Despite the obstacles in his way, Hendriks was not placed on the 60-day IL to begin the season and went on to make his first appearance on May 29th against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chicago’s closer later earned his first strikeout during his next outing on June 3rd against the Detroit Tigers.
He is one of the top closers in the league, having wrapped up 116 career saves, nearly all of which have come since 2019. He led the league in 2021 in saves with 38 for the White Sox.
Hendriks is in his 13th career major league season and has spent time with the Twins, Royals, Blue Jays, Athletics and White Sox. He’s a three-time All-Star (2019, 2021-2022).
In five appearances this year, he is 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA. He’s only worked five innings and has struck out three.
The ESPYs Jimmy V Award is named after former North Carolina State basketball coach Jimmy Valvano, who passed away from cancer after he accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 1993 ESPYs. According to ESPN, the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance is awarded to, “a deserving member of the sporting world who has overcome great obstacles through perseverance and determination.” Past receipts of the award include former ESPN SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott and former NFL quarterback Jim Kelly.
The ESPYs will air on ESPN on July 12, 2023.
