White Sox closer Liam Hendriks was one of the players added to rosters for the All-Star Game Sunday, Major League Baseball announced.
Hendriks and right-hander Jordan Romano of the Blue Jays were added to the American League squad for Tuesday’s game in Los Angeles. Brewers right-hander Devin Williams was added to the NL roster.
They replace Gerrit Cole of the Yankees, Justin Verlander of the Astros and Max Fried of the Braves, who will be inactive.
Hendriks, who teammate Tim Anderson on the AL squad, owns a 2.35 ERA and 18 saves this season. He was an All-Star in 2019 with the Athletics and last season with the Sox.
“I’m excited, obviously,” Hendriks said. “It’s such an honor to go to events like this and go again. I’m hoping to go out there and soak everything up.”
When the teams were initially announced, Sox right-hander Dylan Cease was thought to be the most overlooked pitcher on the Sox staff. Cease, who starts Sunday against the Twins in the final game before the break, is 8-4 with a 2.30 ERA. He leads the majors with 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings. Cease would not have been available to pitch in the All-Star Game.
“His numbers and what he’s done [are deserving],” Hendriks said. “And if you take away the numbers, what he’s meant to this team is unrivaled. It’s disappointing for him but hopefully something to use as fuel to the fire in the second half and be even better.”
Hendriks is the first White Sox reliever since Bobby Jenks in 2006-07 to make back-to-back All-Star teams.
He is tied for fourth in the AL in saves (one off the lead) despite missing nearly three weeks with a flexor strain in his right forearm. He has made 15 consecutive scoreless appearances, allowing four hits with three walks and 22 strikeouts over 15 1⁄3 innings, converting all nine save chances. He has retired his last 21 batters faced.
“I’m in a decent stretch in this part of my career right now,” Hendriks said. “This is a big part of the way things go. I’m just extremely honored. I’ve been able to be relatively consistent with everything going forward the last four years. It’s been a wild ride to think of where it all started, where it all came from and the things we’ve gone through.”
“The big moments don’t shake him,” Sox bullpen coach Curt Hasler said. “He relishes those, he wants those big moments. The bigger the better for him. Those things separate him from a lot of people.
“He has the mentality of ‘I’m the guy who’s going to get this thing done.’ ’’
Anderson will be the starting shortstop.
No progress for Robert
Center fielder Luis Robert felt no progress with lightheadedness that forced him to leave Friday’s game and sit out Saturday and Sunday.
“On hold until he gets the checkup [Monday in Chicago],” manager Tony La Russa said. “We’ll see. Fingers crossed, eyes crossed, legs crossed.”
Robert began feeling lightheaded during the game Friday. There was no incident or collision of any sort that preceded it.
“Let the experts look at him,” La Russa said. “It’s important. Hope for the best.”
