Liam Hendriks knew the number as if it was his career saves or pitching ERA: 680 days.
The 36-year-old Australian right-handed reliever is back on a Major League Baseball roster with the Boston Red Sox, in position to make his first big league appearance since June 9, 2023.
When he plays, it will be Hendriks' 14th season in the "bigs" and the firebrand pitcher already holds the record for the most major league seasons by an Australian.
"It feels like at least a thousand (days)," Hendriks said of his time out, smiling in the middle of the clubhouse.
"It feels a lot longer than that. It's been a long and arduous journey to get here."
Hendriks was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in December 2022 and the three-time All-Star returned to the mound with the Chicago White Sox on May 29 the following year.
He made five appearances and went on the injured list with right elbow inflammation and had Tommy John surgery on August 2 in 2023.
After that season, he was voted the American Leagues comeback player of the year.
Hendriks then joined the Red Sox and made six minor league rehab appearances last August and three this spring.
The Red Sox activated him from the 15-day injured list on Saturday.
He just missed an opportunity to pitch to infielder Curtis Mead, the other Australian currently on a major league roster, with the Red Sox's series against the Tampa Bay Rays ending last week.
A popular player known for charitable work, including providing T-shirts for team employees at last year's season-ending staff party, Hendriks questioned his own ability during spring training.
"Even when I was 96 (mph) in spring, they were taking way too comfortable swings on it and that was one thing that was really hampering me," Hendriks said. "It was really a mental struggle to figure out what the difference was."
An All-Star with Oakland in 2019 and the White Sox in 2021 and '22, Hendriks couldn't figure out what he was doing differently after the surgery.
"All the data said it was similar but it's really hard to define the things that made me as far as pitching," he said.
"One of things that gave me the ability to do well was the jump to the fastball and having that jump where it plays up a little bit and gets on guys."
When he was sidelined, his wife Kristi pushed him to return to the field.
"A lot of it is just showing up every day and making sure you just get that little bit better," he said.
"That and the disdain from my wife (from) still being on the IL (injured list) - that was one of the motivating factors, as well."
- with AP
