Commentary: Thank you, Professor |
Kyle Hendricks’ Cubs career has officially come to an end, as the 34-year-old free agent has signed with the Los Angeles Angels in free agency.
So much can be said about Kyle Hendricks’ Cubs career, from the way he was acquired to the way he performed in the 2016 playoffs, all the way to his final game in a Cubs uniform. Kyle Hendricks started the two biggest games in franchise history, and the Cubs won. Game 6 of the 2016 NLCS to capture the National League pennant for the first time since 1945, and game 7 of the 2016 World Series to clinch the Cubs’ first World Series title since 1908. But let’s go back to the beginning to fully tell Hendricks’ story. Hendricks pitched in college at Dartmouth, an Ivy League school, and was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 8th round of the 2011 MLB draft. Fast forward to the 2012 trade deadline as the Cubs were trying to sell off some of their assets for a rebuild. Ryan Dempster, who was with the Cubs for nine seasons, had built up enough service time with the Cubs to have a partial no-trade clause. Dempster blocked a trade to the Atlanta Braves before agreeing to a trade with the Texas Rangers — which warranted prospects Christian Villanueva and Kyle Hendricks in return. Hendricks made his Cubs debut late in the 2014 season and truly became one of the building blocks for the Cubs. Alongside Anthony Rizzo’s 32 home runs, 78 RBI All-Star season, Hendricks shined with a 7-2 record and a 2.46 ERA in 13 starts. Then came Joe Maddon, Jon Lester, Dexter Fowler, David Ross, and the rookies Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, and Addison Russell, and all of a sudden, the Cubs had won 95 games. Hendricks was 8-7 with a 3.95 ERA that season. Then came 2016, where Hendricks placed 3rd in the NL Cy Young voting thanks to a 16-8 record with a league-best 2.13 ERA. He carried that momentum into the postseason, where he allowed just four earned runs in 25.1 innings pitched — good for a 1.43 ERA. If you calculate just the 2016 NLCS and WS, Hendricks had a 0.85 ERA. His fastball was rarely above 90 miles per hour, but Hendricks became one of baseball’s best pitchers thanks to his ability to change speeds and pinpoint his location. He quickly earned the nickname ‘The Professor, ’ like Greg Maddox, who had a similar pitching style for the Cubs in the 1990s and early 2000s. Hendricks was a well-respected voice in the Cubs’ clubhouse and a fan favorite. His ability to control the strike zone and keep his emotions so calm made him an easy player to look up to for youngsters coming up through the Cubs organization. From 2017 through 2020, Hendricks had four straight seasons above .500 in the W/L column, with his ERA never dipping below 3.46. From 2021-2024, when the Cubs had begun their second wave of rebuilding, Hendricks’ struggles started to creep in. He did win 14 games in 2021 and had an ERA below 4.00 in 2023 — but he wasn’t quite the same pitcher as he entered his 30s. He was the only 2016 World Champion left for a while, after 2021's trades, Contreras and Heywards’ departures, etc. In fact, he was the only Cubs’ World Series champion who signed an extension or even a second contract to stay with the club. His loyalty and commitment to the Cubs and the city of Chicago could not go unstated. However, with an ERA above 6.00 for most of 2024 and his contract set to expire, it only seemed fair for the Cubs to start thinking about their future, with an influx of talent in the minor leagues and some money to spend freeing up on the books. The back half of 2024 for Hendricks became as much about auditioning for an additional contract in Chicago or elsewhere as it did finding his rhythm on the mound. But then, in Hendricks’ final scheduled start of the 2024 campaign, he delivered a vintage professor performance. Hendricks’ final start in a Cub uniform mirrored his NLCS Game 6 masterpiece with 7.1 innings pitched and just two hits allowed on a mere 81 pitches. Hendricks certainly had bullets in the tank, but the Cubs made sure to honor Hendricks with a moment no other 2016 Cub got: a hearty farewell from the Wrigley faithful. While Rizzo, Bryant, Baez, and more got a welcome-back ovation, Hendricks was sent off by the hometown crowd — a moment well deserved for one of the best Cubs ever. Hendricks is 9th in starts and 7th in strikeouts in Cubs history. So thank you, Kyle Hendricks, for your leadership, loyalty, and commitment to our team and city, for your contributions to the 2016 World Series title, for being one of the best Cubs pitchers ever, and for being our Professor. For 2016⁰For years of dominance ⁰For your unwavering commitment ⁰For sweet emotion⁰⁰We thank you, Kyle. pic.twitter.com/FA0ihDx85y
