As the month of July approaches, so too does the time in which this year’s ESPYs will be announced.
Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks is going to receive a special honor this year.
Recently, the veteran right-hander and three-time All-Star returned to the mound after a bout with cancer.
He missed the first two months of the season recovering from this illness.
After being able to bounce back from it, Hendriks will be presented with the Jimmy V Award at the ESPYs this year.
On Twitter, ESPN announced the news of the White Sox closer receiving this incredible honor.
Liam Hendriks of the @whitesox to receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance pic.twitter.com/aUP6rpw5nf
— ESPN (@espn) June 28, 2023
The Jimmy V award is given to a member of the sports world who has overcome great obstacles for perseverance.
The award is named after former college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster Jim Valvano, who passed away in 1993 due to terminal cancer, but gave one last inspiring speech at the ESPYs before his passing.
In that speech, he encouraged the audience to enjoy life to the fullest while also announcing “The V Foundation for Cancer Research.”
The motto of that foundation is to never quit and never give up.
Valvano ultimately passed away less than two months after his speech.
After all that Hendriks has been through, he certainly deserves this award for his ability to keep fighting through adversity and not let the hardships of life get him down, even while he was recovering from cancer.
And so, the veteran right-hander will be presented with the Jimmy V Award.
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