Red Sox Stun Fans! Liam Hendriks Receives 2023 Tony Conigliaro Award

On Wednesday, the Red Sox announced that Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks is the recipient of this year’s Tony Conigliaro Award.

The Tony Conigliaro Award, given annually since 1990, honors a Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity with the spirit, determination, and courage associated with Tony C, the former Red Sox outfielder whose career was tragically cut short after being hit in the face by a pitch in 1967.

Hendriks, expressing gratitude for the honor, shared, “As baseball players, we all dream about winning World Series rings, but if this year has taught me anything, it’s that the biggest impact I can make is by being a source of inspiration to others who are dealing with their own difficult circumstances.”

Diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last December, Hendriks believed he had been pitching with the disease throughout the 2022 season. After eight rounds of chemotherapy between January and April, he returned to the mound for a rehab assignment on May 5 and rejoined the big leagues by May 29.

Despite his impressive comeback, Hendriks’ season was cut short with an elbow injury, leading to Tommy John surgery. His resilience earned him the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at ESPN’s ESPY Awards in July. Recently, he was recognized as the 2023 American League Comeback Player of the Year by MLB and the Players Choice Awards. He was also nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award for the fifth time in his career.

Selected for the Conigliaro Award by a committee of Red Sox officials, MLB executives, and media members, Hendriks secured seven first-place votes, surpassing Yankees righty Ian Hamilton (four) and Red Sox lefty Chris Sale (one). Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Drew Maggi also received votes.