Liam Hendriks

Liam Johnson Hendriks (born 10 February 1989) is an Australian professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Background

Born and raised in Perth, Australia, Hendriks began playing tee-ball when he was 5 rather than the traditional Australian summer game of cricket, before transitioning to baseball at the age of ten. He also played Australian rules football. and at one stage made both the All Australian football and All Australian baseball teams in the same year. Hendriks continued playing both baseball and football through high school at Sacred Heart College in his hometown of Perth.

Hendriks' grandfather and father both played football in the Western Australian Football League and Liam was eligible to be drafted by the Weast Coast Eagles under the Father/Son draft rule had he decided to pursue a career in football. At sixteen Hendriks was forced to make a decision as the two sports began to clash. Deciding on baseball he was signed by the Minnesota Twins on his eighteenth birthday.