Just when we thought we got Hendriks back, there he goes once again.
The White Sox announced this morning that Liam Hendriks has been placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. In a corresponding move, the White Sox have recalled Tanner Banks from Triple-A Charlotte to take his spot.
Hendriks, 34, is 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA on the season over five appearances this season. The right-hander had just returned from his Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis in January and had helped further stabilize what has been one of the best bullpens in baseball over the last month or so. This also helps to explain some of the uproar from fans over the decision for Joe Kelly – and not Hendriks – to close out Saturday’s game against the Marlins which would see a 1-0 lead turn into a 5-1 loss.
This injury also likely moves everyone back a spot in the bullpen, meaning Kendall Graveman is back to being the closer for now. Banks will likely fill in as a long reliever/lefty specialist role. Elbow inflammation is certainly something to be concerned about, especially for Hendriks, who has pitched with a partial tear in his UCL since 2008. However, Hendriks has downplayed any concerns over this in the past, and we are likely going to hear much of the same again the next time he speaks to the media.
Banks has been up and down with the club over the past few seasons. The 31-year-old has spent most of his season in Charlotte, going 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA over 13 relief appearances with the Knights. In four games with the White Sox in 2023, he has gone 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA.
As the White Sox or Hendriks provide further information on Hendriks’ timeline, we will continue to provide updates.
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Featured Image: Joe Ruffalo (@jruff96)
