Los Angeles Angels starter Kyle Hendricks is retiring after 12 years in the big leagues. Hendricks spent his first 11 years with the Chicago Cubs and finished third in the 2016 Cy Young Award race. While he will always be associated with the curse-breaking Cubs, Hendricks was initially drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2011. In 2012, the Red Sox traded for Ryan Dempster, and Hendricks was one of the pieces going back to the Cubbies. Hendricks has never been a flamethrower; in fact, far from it. Even as a prospect, he would barely crack 90 miles per hour. Still, he performed well after the trade, and in 2014, he received the call to the majors.
Kyle Hendricks Retires After 12 Major League Seasons
Kyle Hendricks is retiring after 12 years in the big leagues per @maddie_m_lee
Hendricks pitched for the Cubs for 11 seasons before his one season with the Angels in 2025. pic.twitter.com/yabwnDgljH
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 10, 2025
The Professor is In
The debut of Kyle Hendricks in 2014 couldn’t have gone any better. He started 13 games for the Cubs that year and pitched to a 2.46 ERA in just over 80 innings. This would begin a stretch from 2014 to 2020 during which Hendricks would consistently post FIPs in the mid-to-high 3s. He would earn the nickname “The Professor,” which was given to him because Hendricks would make the most of his five-pitch repertoire. (On top of going to an Ivy League school).
As mentioned, Hendricks never threw fast; however, he had pinpoint control. According to Statcast, Kendricks was in the top 10th percentile on Exit Velocity allowed in all but three of his major league seasons. This would never be truer than in 2016, when Hendricks would finish in third place in Cy Young voting. That year, Hendricks led the league in ERA at 2.13. That year, according to ERA+, Hendricks was 96% better than the league average. This would also be the peak for the Cubs, winning the World Series in 2016 after a 108-year drought.
The Extension and The End
After years of success, the Cubs signed Kyle Hendricks to an ill-fated four-year extension. While it initially looked like a smart move, as he had a top-10 finish in Cy Young voting in 2020, his decline came quickly. While Hendricks never lost control, his already low pitch speeds continued to decline further. Hendricks’ walk rates stayed right around career norms; however, his strikeout rate dropped by almost five percent after the extension. This came to a head in 2024, as Hendricks was removed from the Cubs’ rotation after a disastrous start to his season. Many thought Hendricks may be done after 2024; he surprisingly signed very early in the offseason to a one-year deal for his hometown Angels. In return, Hendricks posted a very average season, posting a 4.76 ERA, which equated to a 90 ERA+.
All told, Kendrick played 12 years in the Majors and was worth 22.8 bWAR in that time. He had a record of 105-91 and struck out 1,373 batters. We here at LWOS wish Kyle the best in his post-playing career.
Main Photo Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The post Former Cy Young Finalist Kyle Hendricks Retires appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.