The Australian pitcher who broke a record by facing fewer than he struck out
In short: In the high-pressure environment of the 2015 American League Championship Series, Liam Hendriks achieved a feat so statistically improbable it hadn't been seen in over 85 years. He didn't just dominate his opponents; he managed to record more outs than batters faced during a single relief appearance.
Liam Hendriks' journey to the Major Leagues was unconventional for an Australian athlete. Born in Perth, he began playing tee-ball at age five—a rarity in a country dominated by cricket. While his father, Geoff Hendriks, was a prominent football player eligible for the West Coast Eagles under the AFL’s father–son rule, Liam chose baseball. He signed with the Minnesota Twins on his 18th birthday and spent years navigating the minor leagues before making his MLB debut in 2014.
Hendriks became a standout reliever known for high-leverage performance and community engagement. His 2015 season with the Toronto Blue Jays featured a historic moment in Game Four of the ALCS. Entering as a long reliever, he pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings from the second to the sixth. During this stretch, he recorded 13 outs while facing only 12 batters—a performance that shattered an 85-year-old record previously held by Jim Lindsey in 1930.
His career reached new heights with the Chicago White Sox, where he became a two-time Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year winner (2020, 2021). In 2021, he led all MLB relievers in strikeouts with 113 and secured the save in the All-Star Game. Beyond the mound, Hendriks has been recognized as a seven-time Roberto Clemente nominee for his work with cancer survivors, veterans, and poverty relief initiatives in the Dominican Republic.
Despite his accolades, Hendriks' career has been marked by physical resilience. He overcame back surgery and non-Hodgkin lymphoma to continue competing at the highest level. His unique path—from a kid playing football in Western Australia to an MLB All-Star and record-breaker—highlights a rare trajectory of athletic versatility and perseverance.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Liam Hendriks
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