{
  "id": 10838110,
  "title": "MLB All-Star Who Came Back From Cancer Retires Immediately at 37",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/mlb-all-star-who-came-back-from-cancer-retires-immediately-at-37",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-30T02:39:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/liam-hendriks-retires-lymphoma-red-sox-white-sox-athletics-cubs-twins-royals-blue-jays-australia-12504547"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Liam Hendriks, the 37-year-old MLB pitcher who returned from cancer and Tommy John surgery, announced his immediate retirement from baseball on Sept. 29, citing his ailing arm as the primary reason. Hendriks, who recorded a 3.88 ERA and 739 strikeouts in 663.2 innings across his 14-season MLB career, played for six teams from 2011 to 2025. He became a full-time closer for the Athletics in 2019 and earned three consecutive All-Star selections from 2019 to 2021, leading the AL with 38 saves in 2021. After battling lymphoma in 2023, Hendriks returned to the White Sox in 2025 but was forced to retire after a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow required Tommy John surgery.",
  "summary": "A three-time All-Star who came back from cancer and Tommy John surgery to pitch 14 seasons in MLB retired at 37.",
  "key_points": [
    "Liam Hendriks, 37, MLB pitcher who battled cancer and Tommy John surgery.",
    "Announces immediate retirement Sept. 29, citing ailing arm as primary reason.",
    "Earned three All-Star selections (2019-2021) and 739 strikeouts in 14-season career."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Liam Hendriks's immediate retirement marks a swift end to a remarkable comeback from cancer, highlighting the harsh realities of a career cut short by persistent arm injuries.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}