The first-choice closer for the Chicago White Sox, Liam Hendriks probably doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves in his native Australia, because the 32-year-old is on the cusp of big things in Major League Baseball. Hendriks and his ballclub have streaked away with the AL Central in 2021 and are shaping strongly in the search for a first World Series title since 2005. 

The wheeling and dealing West Australian arrived on the South Side of Chicago the last offseason, leaving the Oakland Athletics and signing a three-year deal with an option for a fourth for a guaranteed minimum of USD $54 million with the Sox -- breaking record average annual value for a relief pitcher. 

So far in 2021, he leads the American League and is second in all of Major League Baseball in saves, is limiting opposing batters to a .179 batting average, has a WHIP of 0.77 and a career-high mark of 14.2 strikeouts per nine innings. However, he’s also given up 11 homers and blown six saves -- leading to him recently telling the Chicago Sun Times that he was having a mixed season.

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