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Liam Hendricks 2022 Player Outlook: The Number One Closer And For Good Reason
Liam Hendricks is generally the first relief pitcher being taken in drafts with an ADP ~34. With so few 'elite' options for saves, he fully justifies being the RP1. No one has more saves than Hendricks over the last two years (52) and he's done that while putting up a 2.34 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 150 strikeouts in 96.1 IP. Hendricks has had an elite K% since 2019 (39.7%) which has ranked in the 97th percentile or better in each of the last three seasons. His 42.3% K% in 2021 ranked third and 2.6% BB% ranked second among all relievers (minimum 20.0 IP). Hendricks fastball averaged 97.7 MPH in 2021, up from 96.0 MPH in 2020 and 96.5 MPH in 2019. He threw it 68.9% of the time and hitters managed only a .379 SLG against it. Yet, his secondary pitchers fare even better. Hendricks slider (which he threw 21.3%) had a .129 SLG against it and his curveball (thrown 9.7%) had a .207 SLG against it. The White Sox will be expected to have another 90+ win season and Hendricks doesn't have anyone that will prevent him from reaching (or bettering) the 38 saves he picked up in 2021.
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