How Hendriks' life-changing mentality saved his career

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- I was walking around downtown Chicago recently, taking advantage of the unseasonably cooler July conditions, when a bus passed by with Liam Hendriks’ picture on the side. It made me stop and think, partially because, if that bus placard could talk, it would be very colorful and entertaining.

Hendriks’ success is an excellent lesson for everyone pursuing workplace greatness. Despite the right-hander’s on-field bravado, his gregarious nature and his mound dominance, the White Sox closer’s All-Star ascension was anything but overnight. Far from it.

On June 25, 2018, Hendriks, then with the A's, was designated for assignment after giving up four runs on four hits in one inning at the White Sox the previous day. At that point, he began to think about life on the diamond, but potentially life on the diamond outside of Major League Baseball.

“We were three months away from being out of baseball or at least out of affiliated baseball in America,” Hendriks told MLB.com during a recent interview. “We were talking about possibilities about going to Korea or Japan if those opportunities arose.

“I got called back up in September 2018, started the [American League] Wild Card Game, and it didn’t go well. But then after that, kind of ran with it a little bit and here we are.”

Ran with it, as in Hendriks became one of baseball’s most coveted free agents in the offseason prior to the 2021 campaign and is currently one of the top closers in the game. So, what changed?

For openers, it was Hendriks’ attitude.

“Going back to what made me successful when I was coming through the Minor Leagues was something I fully embraced again,” Hendriks said. “I was along the lines of, if I’m going to go out, I want to go out on my terms. Not an organization directive. I want to go out doing the things I think can make me successful. Then that turned into something.

“It was very surreal, and I want to make sure I never lose that kind of viewpoint,” Hendriks added on being coveted as a free agent. “Making sure everything I do, I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to play. I just want to go out there and pitch no matter what the role. I want to make sure I never lose that mindset. Complacency is one of my biggest cruxes. I want to make sure I never fall into that trap.”

When discussing Hendriks’ life outlook, complacency never is a word that comes to mind. He often talks about hot-button issues being debated around the country, although it’s always topics brought to him for replies, and Hendriks doesn’t really care about the "stick to sports" crew. He believes in himself across the board and has made it to the top with that conviction and the help of his inner circle.

“I don’t think I would be anywhere where I am right now without the people surrounding me,” Hendriks said. “That’s something that has helped me. Whether I’m being down on myself and they are picking me up, or whether I’m too high on myself and they are bringing me back down to make sure I remember where I’m at, and how grateful I need to be to be able to play this game for a living.”