Liam Hendriks becomes first Athletic to earn annual reliever award

Liam Hendriks’ season, which began with a blown save on Opening Night, reached its peak Saturday when he was named the American League Reliever of the Year.

Hendriks is the first A’s pitcher to win the award, which was established in 2014 and bears the name of Mariano Rivera. Three A’s won the award when it was known as the Rolaids Relief Award: Dennis Eckersley (twice), Billy Koch and Keith Foulke.

“Honored is an understatement,” Hendriks said in a statement released by the team. “It’s humbling to win an award that bears the name of the greatest closer in history.”

Rivera was part of a seven-member selection committee that included Eckersely, Rollie Fingers,Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, John Franco and Billy Wagner.

Hendriks’ blown save on Opening Night — he gave up a game-tying home run to Jason Castro of the Los Angeles Angels — was his only failure of the year. He went 14-for-15 in save opportunities, compiling a 1.78 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 24 appearances over 25 1/2 innings. He gave up just that one home run.

Hendriks is a free agent and, although both he and the A’s have expressed interest in him returning, that is unlikely.

In his statement Saturday, Hendriks thanked everyone — his teammates, his coaches, the A’s organization, even the relievers with whom he has shared a bullpen over the years.

“Finally, to A’s fans everywhere, I’ve had the privilege to represent you since I arrived here five years ago,” Hendriks said. “And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Hendriks’ redemption story began in 2018, when he was struggling with the A’s and designated for assignment. That fall, the A’s used Hendriks as an opener in the 2018 Wild Card game against the New York Yankees. Aaron Judge greeted him and the A’s with a two-run blast in the first inning that set the tone for a rough one-and-done postseason stint.

But Hendriks’ stock skyrocketed in his next season when he took over the closer role for a struggling Blake Treinen that June. After mastering his slider — for which he earned his nickname “Slydah” — Hendriks earned an All-Star nod and put up a 1.80 ERA with 124 strikeouts and a 0.965 WHIP.

He was a hero in the A’s 2020 postseason run. First gutting out 50 pitches to escape a near meltdown in Game 2 of the wild-card series against the Chicago White Sox, only to pitch a shutout ninth in Game 3 to seal the A’s first postseason series win since 2006. He completed a three-inning save in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Houston Astros to preserve the A’s only win that series.