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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 04: Manager Derek Shelton #8 of the Minnesota Twins addresses media during a press conference to introduce Shelton as manager at Target Field on November 04, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Twins have been actively looking for bullpen help this offseason. They got someone to help remedy this.
The Twins have signed reliever Liam Hendriks to a minor league deal with an invite to MLB camp, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Hendriks now goes full circle back to the team that gave him his first major league opportunity back in 2011 out of Australia.
From struggles both on and off the field to success, Hendriks has seen a lot throughout his career.
Hendriks’ Journey in the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins
The Twins signed Hendriks as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He would make his major league debut in 2011 as a starter with Minnesota, which did not go as planned.
In fact, the first few years of his career with Minnesota didn’t go well. In 30 games from 2011-2013, 28 starts, Hendriks pitched to a 6.06 ERA.
He was soon after DFA’d by the Twins, where he would spend time with the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays.
In 2014, he was still being used as a starter, unsuccessfully, posting a 5.23 ERA.
In 2015, the Blue Jays switched him to a full-time reliever. That’s where the magic started.
In 58 games, Hendriks pitched to a 2.92 ERA. The Blue Jays traded him after the season to the Oakland Athletics, where he would fully break out.
Hendriks’ Breakout
In five seasons with the A’s, Hendriks pitched to a 3.08 ERA. During the 2019 season, he was elevated to Oakland’s closer, and he delivered.
In 75 games, Hendriks pitched to a 1.80 ERA with 124 strikeouts and just 21 walks, accumulating 3.7 bWAR. He also had 25 saves and made his first All-Star appearance.
During the COVID-shortened 2020 season, it was more of the same. He pitched to a 1.78 ERA and 14 saves. Hendriks was able to parlay that into the highest Average Annual Value by a relief pitcher in free agency with the Chicago White Sox.
From 2021-2022, Hendriks backed up that contract. He pitched in 127 games, pitching to a sub-2.75 ERA with 75 saves. Hendriks would make two more All-Star appearances between those two seasons.
Unfortunately, after the 2022 season, Hendriks was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Because of this, Hendriks missed most of the 2023 season recovering but made a triumphant return, much to the amazement of baseball fans.
However, in August of that year, he underwent Tommy John surgery, missing all of the 2024 season. He signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2024, where he would make his return the following season. In 14 games, he just wasn’t the same with a 6.59 ERA.
Now, entering his age-37 season, Hendriks must come back to his old self to finish out an inspiring career.
Hendriks will enter a Twins bullpen with Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa and Cole Sands. Outside of those three arms, the Minnesota bullpen is very inexperienced, leading to a potential opening for Hendriks to make the major league roster.
As long as Hendriks has a good camp, he could make a comeback to the major leagues, solidifying his legacy.
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Matthew Singer Matthew Singer is a sports reporter covering MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2025, and has two years of experience covering local professional, collegiate and high school sports, including writing for Cronkite News and Arizona PBS. More about Matthew Singer
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