Kyle Hendricks

BIOGRAPHY

Kyle Christian Hendricks was born on December 7, 1989, in Newport Beach, California. He is a starting pitcher in the MLB.

Hendricks attended Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, California. Kyle was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 39th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, but did not sign and instead chose to attend Dartmouth College. Kyle played college baseball for the Dartmouth Big Green under head coach Bob Whalen. In his junior year, Hendricks pitched to a 6–3 win-loss record and a 2.47 earned run average with 70 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. Hendricks throws a sinker, cutter, changeup, curveball and the occasional 4-seam fastball. Hendricks mixes his pitches very well, using all except the 4-seam with regularity, to both left-handed and right-handed batters. During his breakout 2016 campaign, Hendricks became known for his increasing ability to locate his pitches and his ability to make all of his offerings move with a considerable break, the sinker in particular. 

Hendricks grew up in San Juan Capistrano, California, and later attended Capistrano Valley High School. His father, John, is a golf pro and his mother, Ann Marie, is a medical-management consultant. Kyle received his bachelor's degree in economics from Dartmouth College in December 2013, after completing his coursework in the winter of 2012 and fall of 2013. Hendricks is nicknamed "The Professor" by his teammates and fans. The nickname is not only a reference to Hendricks' Ivy League education but also an homage to Greg Maddux, who also sported the same nickname. Hendricks chose "Hendo" as his nickname for the Players Weekend during the 2017 season.

On April 18, 2021 in a game against the Atlanta Braves, Hendricks allowed home runs to Freddie Freeman, Travis d'Arnaud, Ehire Adrianza, and Guillermo Heredia all in the first inning, becoming the first pitcher in Cubs history to allow four home runs in the first inning, and only the ninth player in history to accomplish the feat. He finished the 2021 season with a 14–7 record.

In 16 starts for Chicago in 2022, Hendricks registered a 4–6 record and 4.80 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 84+1⁄3 innings pitched.