At 6’3” and 190 pounds, Kyle Hendricks brings nothing but pure filth to the mound each and every start for the Chicago Cubs. Hendricks doesn’t really bring the heat when it comes to speed, however his command and control of each of his pitches is unreal. So how did Hendricks become the pitcher he is today? And how did he get to the windy city?
Acquired Via Trade
On July 31, 2012 the Chicago Cubs sent pitcher Ryan Dempster to the Texas Rangers in exchange for In fielder Christian Villanueva and Kyle Hendricks. The trade, made by Cubs president of buisness operations Theo Epstein, turned out to be a blockbuster deal in the end. Hendricks began his career with the Cubs down in single A Myrtle Beach and Daytona, going 6-8 with a 2.99 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 25 games. Hendricks had 2 complete games and 2.82 ERA in 20 starts with Myrtle Beach which earned him Carolina League mid-season all-star honors.
In 2013, Hendricks began his first full year in the Chicago Cubs organization. He combined to go 13-4 with a 2.00 ERA and a complete game shutout in 27 starts between double A affiliate Tennessee Smokies and triple a affiliate the Iowa Cubs. His performance that year earned him the organizations Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. That year, Hendricks also claimed the Southern League ERA title with a 1.85 ERA and led the league with a .769 win percentage and a 1.50 WHIP.
Major League Debut
In 2014, Hendricks made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs in July and went on to post a 7-2 record with a 2.46 ERA in 13 starts. He also was named National League Rookie of the Month for August of that year, going 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA in six starts. In 2015, Hendricks spent the entirety of the season in the Majors.
In his first full season he went 8-7 with a complete game shutout and a 3.95 ERA in 32 starts for the Cubs, while also recording a 22.1 scoreless inning streak that ranged from June 24-July 10. The streak was the longest by any Cubs player since Ryan Dempster’s 33 inning record from June-July of 2012.
Come playoff time last year for the Cubs, Hendricks started two games, one coming in the NLDS and the other in the NLCS. In his NLDS outing Hendricks went 4.2 innings pitched with 3 earned runs as well as providing some offensive support when he laid down a run scoring sacrifice bunt in the second inning, the Cubs would go on to win and take the series beating divison rival the St Louis Cardinals. In the NLCS, Hendricks only lasted 4 innings giving up 2 earned runs, the Cubs would go on to lose the series by way of a sweep to the New York Mets.
Hendricks continues to impress to this day. Through 27 starts he’s compiled a 15-7 record with a league leading 2.03 ERA. Hendricks performance this year definitely puts him in the conversation for Cy Young recipient’s and some say he’s already won it.