2025 Nominee

Background of Service

Liam Hendriks is the epitome of a Champion of Valor. It took Liam some time to establish himself in the Major Leagues. After years of determination and hard work, he emerged as a three-time All-Star, two-time Reliever of the Year, and twice Red Sox-nominated Bob Feller Act of Valor Award candidate.

In 2023, Liam was thrown the ultimate curveball. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Liam attacked his diagnosis just as he would a dangerous batter in the ninth inning of a save situation – head on, with everything in his fiber. After months of aggressive treatment, Liam was considered in remission by April, and back on the mound a month later. In a cruel sequence of life pitches, Liam was only able to compete in 2023 for a short time before needing season-ending Tommy John surgery. Despite the setbacks, Liam devoted himself to meeting with cancer patients during homestands, and as he traveled with the team in other MLB cities. If Liam couldn’t contribute on the field, he was dedicated to being a constant supportive clubhouse presence. Despite the challenges, Liam’s team-first, giving character didn’t waiver, and as a result he was awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, the AL Comeback Player of the Year and the Tony Conigliaro Award.

Upon joining the Red Sox just before the 2024 season, Liam and his wife, Kristi, instantly connected with their new team to detail their off-the-field community engagement agenda, most notably to continue meeting with cancer patients and supporting the Veteran community in Greater Boston.

The Hendrikses, as a team, have been the leaders in our clubhouse when it comes to giving back to our Nation’s Heroes. Serving in their second year as the Home Base Captains, Liam and Kristi support the organization by fundraising and serving. Home Base is a national nonprofit, that provides lifechanging care to Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen at no cost to them. The Run to Home Base is the largest signature fundraiser for Home Base, which has served over 35,000 Warriors and their families since its creation in 2009. Last year, Kristi finished in the top 10 fundraisers – contributing to an amazing $3.3 million raised at the event. Liam congratulated nearly all the 2,500+ race participants as they crossed home plate at Fenway Park, they joined an all-team event packing backpacks for service members’ children and hygiene kits for homeless Veterans, and they participated in the pregame ceremony recognizing our women Veterans and their legacies. Kristi is among the top fundraisers for this year’s running class, ahead of the late-July event. Other ways they support Home Base include having visited the Home Base Center of Excellence numerous times, participated in a podcast episode with the nonprofit, invited Veterans to Fenway Park, and have helped set up 37,000 American Flags in the Boston Commons for Memorial Day Weekend’s display, that honors each person from Massachusetts who died while serving in the U.S. military since the Revolutionary War.

In addition to supporting Home Base, Liam and Kristi also work with the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), in downtown Boston. While Liam is at the ballpark or on the road, Kristi continues the couple’s service by working the lunch shift two days each week. Liam sponsors a meal each month during the year, and joins Kristi in the NECHV kitchen when he can. They have even treated the kitchen staff to a Red Sox game from one of the Fenway Park Diamond Suites.

As a cancer survivor himself, Liam knows firsthand the struggle of living with that diagnosis. Through 70 games, Liam has dedicated 31 hours, to meet with over 1,000 people over 42 appearances. The time Liam gives to his guests is unprecedented. Liam asks questions, shares stories of his own journey, including treatment plan and side effects. Liam has these visits during every series. Every time a new team visits Boston, he is hosting a cancer patient. Nearly every city the Red Sox visits on the road, Liam is hosting a cancer patient. He offers the full package to their guests – complimentary tickets, parking arranged in our player parking lot, gift cards for concessions, swag and batting practice viewing from the field.

It is unclear where Liam and Kristi find the time to give back in such a variety of ways. What is certain is their commitment to making a positive impact on society. Liam is a leader within the clubhouse and will often encourage his teammates to join him in his work. Liam has earned a reputation around the League for his genuine kindness and giving nature, and he is certainly deserving of the Champions of Valor award.