DETROIT — Closer Liam Hendriks won’t be available to pitch when the White Sox host the Orioles on June 23, but it will be an important night to him.
The Sox are having a “Pride Night,” an event so meaningful to the 33-year-old right-hander that he asked teams if they had one when he was going through free agency before the 2021 season. Hendriks said he didn’t really want to be part of a team that didn’t have one.
The Sox have had a Pride Night since 2018. Hendriks signed a four-year, $54 million deal in 2021 with the Sox.
“It’s something I believe in,” Hendriks said. “I have family members that are part of the community, and my wife does, as well. We are completely open to everything, and we don’t judge anyone for what they are. We wanted to make sure there is a face in this organization who can openly talk about this to raise awareness.”
Hendriks and his wife, Kristi, are active in numerous charitable and community efforts. On Zoom calls when he was going through free agency, Hendriks asked teams about “their actual goals” in community efforts.
“We wanted to have an agenda with it, make sure we are improving the community by going through these things,” he said. “Not just buy a ticket and get a shirt. Have a lasting impression, let everyone know who comes to a game that it’s an inclusive space and everyone feels included, represented and welcomed.”
