“The Dark Side of the Mound: How Liam Hendriks Fights Online Hate, Death Threats, and the Shadow of Cancer to Keep Pitching for the Red Sox”

By [Your Name] | Boston, MA – July 2025

When Liam Hendriks walked off the mound at Fenway Park last week, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The scoreboard showed a clean inning, the Red Sox bullpen roared in support, and Hendriks pumped his fist with trademark intensity. On the surface, it looked like just another day at the ballpark.

But beyond the white lines of baseball, Hendriks has been battling a far darker opponent — one that can’t be silenced with a blazing fastball or a nasty slider.

In a raw and emotional interview this week, the 35-year-old relief pitcher revealed the shocking scale of online abuse and death threats he’s received since his triumphant return to baseball after beating cancer. Some of the messages, he said, have gone as far as urging him to die or mocking his cancer battle, a phenomenon he described as “suicide envy” — strangers telling him they wish his disease had killed him.

“It’s vile,” Hendriks said, shaking his head. “People telling me I should’ve died of cancer instead of coming back to pitch. Or that I should go kill myself. That’s the world we live in now.”

The Road Back From Cancer

Hendriks’ story has long been one of resilience. Diagnosed in early 2023 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he underwent months of grueling treatment, losing weight, strength, and his connection to the sport he loves. Yet by mid-2023, he shocked the baseball world by returning to the mound for the Chicago White Sox, earning thunderous applause in his first game back.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever pitch again,” Hendriks told reporters at the time. “Every day felt like a battle.”

Last winter, he signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, eager for a fresh start. Despite initial struggles regaining his velocity, he’s become a valuable piece in Boston’s bullpen, posting a 3.21 ERA and delivering crucial late-inning outs.

Fans embraced his comeback story, hailing him as a warrior who refused to surrender to disease.

But not everyone shared the same compassion.

Threats, Hatred, and “Suicide Envy”

In recent weeks, Hendriks said the volume of online harassment escalated alarmingly. The messages are not merely negative criticism of his performance but deeply personal attacks about his health and his very right to exist.

“People said, ‘Why didn’t cancer finish the job?’ Or, ‘You’re worthless, go kill yourself.’ That’s not heckling. That’s hate,” Hendriks said.

One anonymous user messaged Hendriks on Instagram:

“Hope your cancer comes back and kills you. You’re stealing money from the Red Sox.”

Another said:

“You inspire no one. Take your own life. No one will care.”

Hendriks calls this wave of vile comments “suicide envy.” It’s a chilling phrase for the disturbing idea that strangers resent survivors for living through something others didn’t.

“I know there are people who’ve lost loved ones to cancer,” he said, voice trembling. “But wishing death on someone who fought like hell to live? It’s cruel beyond words.”

Baseball’s Growing Mental Health Reckoning

Hendriks’ story is the latest example of the mental health crisis boiling beneath the surface of professional sports. While fans often see athletes as superhuman, the reality is far more fragile.

Players across MLB have spoken out in recent years about depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Earlier this year, Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran revealed he attempted suicide in 2022 after relentless online attacks over his performance.

“It’s the comments that stick with you,” Hendriks said. “You could read a hundred nice messages. But that one telling you to die? That’s the one you remember at 3 a.m.”

Support From the Red Sox and Beyond

Inside Boston’s clubhouse, teammates have rallied around Hendriks.

“Liam’s one of the toughest guys I know,” said Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen. “But nobody should have to read the stuff people send him. It’s disgusting.”

Manager Alex Cora called the online abuse “sickening,” urging MLB and social media platforms to do more.

“He’s not just a player. He’s a human being who beat cancer and is trying to do his job,” Cora said. “People forget that.”

Major League Baseball has increased mental health resources in recent seasons, offering counseling and education about social media harassment. But many players feel more proactive solutions are needed.

“We have to hold these trolls accountable,” said Hendriks. “Right now, they’re invisible. They can say anything without consequence.”

A Hero for More Than Baseball

Despite the hatred hurled his way, Hendriks refuses to be silent. He’s using his platform to advocate for mental health and cancer awareness, partnering with charities and speaking publicly about suicide prevention.

“I’m not going to let these people win,” he said firmly. “I’ve fought bigger battles than some coward behind a keyboard.”

And through it all, he’s still pitching — still firing fastballs past hitters, still roaring with passion on the mound.

On the night of his most recent save, Hendriks stood in the Fenway Park infield as the crowd showered him with cheers. In the dugout afterward, he scrolled briefly through his phone, then shut it off and stuffed it into his locker.

“Nothing they say online can ever take away what I’ve survived,” he said.

For Liam Hendriks, the fight continues — both between the white lines and far beyond.