Australian baseball player Liam Hendriks’ gorgeous comeback moment after beating stage four cancer
Australian pitcher Liam Hendriks has made an emotional comeback to Major League Baseball after surviving cancer.
The Chicago White Sox took Hendriks to the top of the eighth inning in Monday’s (Tuesday AEST) home game against the Los Angeles Angels.
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The Angels joined Hendriks’ teammates and 23,599 fans in giving him a standing ovation as he ran from the bullpen to the mound while Queen classic “We Will Rock You” blared.
But that’s where the mood ended as Los Angeles scored two runs in the eighth game and extended their lead to 6-3.
Chicago scored a run in the ninth game before losing 6-4.
Hendriks allowed three hits and a walk in his one inning.
“It was great to be back out there,” said Hendriks.
“Come back, put on football boots, run out and do all that. I felt good, I felt strong, I felt good out there. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get the two strike pitch where I wanted to go.”
Hendriks also received a standing ovation before the game when he and his wife Kristi donated more than $100,000 to a cancer charity.
The money was raised through the sale of t-shirts in support of Hendriks’ health campaign.
The only Australian currently playing in the major leagues announced in January that he had stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and had missed the first two months of the season.
The Perth pitcher, a two-time MLB All-Star, is now in remission and had aimed to return to the White Sox by the end of May.
Hendriks, famed for his intensity, stood behind the hill and soaked up the atmosphere before getting down to business.
He threw a first pitch strike to Matt Thaiss – who waited before going into the batter’s box, giving Hendriks more time to enjoy the moment – but the Angels catcher then hit a single.
“I want to thank Matt Thaiss for stepping down and giving me the time to do that,” said Hendriks.
“I appreciate that very much. That was a big sign of respect.”
– with AP, 7NEWS
