Kyle Hendricks is embracing his transition to the bullpen as a fresh opportunity. The 34-year-old right-hander, a crucial part of the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship, is looking to turn things around after a tough start this season.
Hendricks began the season with a rough 0-4 record and a 10.57 ERA in his first seven starts, which led to him being pushed out of Chicago's rotation. The Cubs are opting for a bullpen day in Hendricks' usual slot against Atlanta on Thursday. Reflecting on this change, Hendricks said, "We all know what’s been going on. I think just trying to give the team the best chance to win, at the end of the day. And that’s all I’m trying to be about too. So I’m honestly excited for the opportunity and the challenge in a way. ... Just a big opportunity, obviously, to try and turn things around.”
Hendricks, who's only made two relief appearances in his 11-year career (one during the 2016 season and another in the 2018 NL Wild Card Game against Colorado), is ready for the challenge. He's also the last player from the 2016 championship team still on the Cubs' roster, having been acquired in a July 2012 trade that sent Ryan Dempster to the Texas Rangers.
The beginning of this season has been particularly challenging for Hendricks. After being placed on the 15-day injured list on April 23 with a low back strain, he returned on May 12 and pitched five effective innings at Pittsburgh. However, his most recent outing saw him surrender seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Pirates. “You can’t put up those kinds of results,” Hendricks admitted. “We’re in a win-now kind of mode, and that’s exactly where I want to be. I want to be part of a team that’s winning. I just want to be doing my part to contribute to that winning. So I wasn’t doing that.”
Hendricks, eligible for free agency after this season, has a track record of success. From 2016 to 2020, he went 54-39 with a 3.00 ERA and four complete games, striking out 668 batters and issuing 168 walks in 787 innings. However, a capsular tear in his right shoulder sidelined him in July 2022, and he started last season on the injured list as he continued his rehab. He returned to the mound last May and finished the year with a respectable 3.74 ERA in 24 starts.
Despite the rough patch, there's optimism about his future. “I think there's a lot of positives you can take from the way he's throwing the ball. He hasn't put it together yet,” said president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. “So, to be clear, I think he has a lot of good baseball left to pitch.” Hendricks himself remains focused on the basics, stating, “My goal is just honestly to make good pitches, make good pitches and get some outs, see the results that come from it.”
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