Red Sox Reliever Expresses Interest In Pitching For Olympic Team

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher and candidate for this upcoming season’s closer’s role Liam Hendriks is setting sights on a lifetime goal.

Hendriks, while prepping for his belated debut with the Red Sox, revealed that while becoming an MLB pitcher has been great, there’s an even greater bucket list achievement in mind: pitching in the Olympics. The 35-year-old Australian native is eyeing the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles as the potential dream-fulfiller.

“Growing up in Australia, that is the pinnacle,” Hendriks told MLB Network Radio. “It wasn’t Major League Baseball. It wasn’t the NFL. It wasn’t the NBA. It was always the Olympics. The Olympics is the pinnacle of sports in a lot of Australians’ eyes, and that was the same for me. That’s what it was. You are an Olympian, that is the coolest thing you can ever be and that’s the one thing I want to do. I would love to be an Olympian.”

It’s been two years since Hendriks last stepped foot on a big league mound. He pitched in relief for the Chicago White Sox in 2023 and recorded a 5.40 ERA across five innings logged across five appearances after undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma — Hendriks missed the start of 2023 and returned in May.

The Red Sox signed Hendriks the following offseason to a two-year, $10 million contract.

Hendriks, while written off last season amid recovery from Tommy John surgery, worked his tail off to make an improbable return — even as the season neared its end and Boston’s playoff hopes had dwindled. The fierce right-hander demonstrated his commitment and determination through rehab appearances and bullpen sessions at Fenway Park.

Boston didn’t gain any on-field contribution from Hendriks last season, but the charismatic veteran provided the clubhouse with plenty of personality.

This go-around, Hendriks, while mindful of the upcoming Olympics, will first focus on helping get the Red Sox back on track. Hendriks will join a slew of offseason additions including Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler and Aroldis Chapman, and Lucas Giolito who also missed the entirety of 2024 — after undergoing UCL surgery.

“I got a brand new elbow so I can play for as long as I need to, to make sure I become an Olympian at some point,” Hendriks said.

Baseball was not played in the 2024 Paris Olympics and was dropped in 2008 before being picked back up for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Back in 2023, baseball — along with softball, cricket, lacrosse, squash and flag football — were added the LA’s 2028 Olympics, which will give Hendriks a shot at finally representing Australia.