Liam Hendriks has a target return date to White Sox bullpen

The Chicago White Sox, for a long time, were just hoping that they could get their offense going. Now, they are hoping to get their bullpen back to full strength now that their offense seems to be good again. In order to reach its full potential, it needs Liam Hendriks.

It has been a while since Hendriks pitched and people were starting to wonder what is wrong. Tony La Russa was taking heat for not using him but that is the team’s own fault for not putting him on the IL.

On Tuesday, they finally made that move and got him on the 15-day IL. Joe Kelly came off the IL at the same time which lessens the blow and also kind of explains why they might have waited. The move is retroactive to June 11th.

Of course, this is a horrible thing for the White Sox as Liam Hendriks provides so much. Every time this team takes a step forward in terms of injury they take another one backward. Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly came back but Hendriks is now gone.

However, it was worrisome to hear about a right forearm strain for sure. The original diagnosis was that they were hoping for three weeks. Now, it sounds like Liam Hendriks also believes in that timeline and has a target return date.

Liam Hendriks clearly has a date to return to the Chicago White Sox bullpen.

It sounds like Hendriks wants to be back by July 1st. He told that to the media before their game on Wednesday. In the same sequence, he brought up that he has had a torn UCL since 2008 that he has been dealing with. That is certainly something to keep in mind as we move forward as well.

To be honest, getting Liam back on July 1st would be the best-case scenario for this team. The bullpen has a lot of good arms when they are healthy. They also need the starters to go deeper in games which might be easier now that Lynn is back.

If the White Sox do get themselves back in the race, they need Liam Hendriks at 100 percent. It is certainly better to have this happen now than in late August or September. Hopefully, he is able to reach his target.