Chicago White Sox' Liam Hendriks to Receive Jimmy V Award at the 2023 ESPY Awards

After beating cancer this offseason, Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks is the recipient of the 2023 Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the upcoming ESPY Awards.

Baseball fans will have reason to tune into the 2023 ESPY Awards this year as its been announced that Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks is the recipient of the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.

The following comes from a portion of the press release on the honor:

Chicago White Sox pitcher and cancer survivor Liam Hendriks will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, a symbol of his strength and resilience in his fight against non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In Hendriks’ first game back on the mound this May, he threw 16 strikes against the Los Angeles Angels, bringing the crowd to their feet for a standing ovation as he walked back to the dugout. Battling cancer since late last year, Hendriks’ returned to the mound within six months and donated $100,000 to cancer research in the process. Past recipients of the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance include Dick Vitale (2022), Chris Nikic (2021), Craig Sager (2016), and Stuart Scott (2014). 

Hendriks' return is certainly the feel-good story of baseball this season. He's currently out with an elbow injury but might be ready to return around the All-Star break.

He is one of the top closers in the league, having wrapped up 116 career saves, nearly all of which have come since 2019. He led the league in 2021 in saves with 38 for the White Sox.

Hendriks is in his 13th career major league season and has spent time with the Twins, Royals, Blue Jays, Athletics and White Sox. He's a three-time All-Star (2019, 2021-2022).

In five appearances this year, he is 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA. He's only worked five innings and has struck out three.

The ESPY Awards are July 12 at 8 p.m. ET.