By Craig HandelSpecial to FOXSportsNorth.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. – No worries.
It's an Australian expression, meaning don't worry about that, that's all right.
It's also been a way Minnesota Twins pitcher Liam Hendriks has dealt with his adversities.
Cut from making a youth all-star team in Australia. Two knee surgeries.
Appendicitis. Spine surgery. Elbow surgery. Losing his first two major league decisions and going 1-8 in the majors last year.
"I've had to learn quickly not to worry about anything," Hendriks said. "Everything happens for a reason at this point. I've learned to deal with adversity from the get-go and learned to keep a positive outlook with everything."
With pitching spots open on the Twins' roster, Hendriks has reason to have a positive outlook. If he can translate some of his success from Triple-A Rochester to Minnesota, he can help the team rebound from it 66-96 record in 2012. Hendriks is fully recovered from having a bone chip removed from his right elbow in November and said he's been throwing with no issues since Christmas Eve. He gave up a run on a hit with a walk in his first spring training outing.
"I've told him, ‘You've done a good job of beating up Triple-A," Twins pitch coach Rick Anderson said. "You don't have anything to prove there. You're healthy. Now it's up to you. It's time to get it done." AAA to MLB: Difference more than three letters
For the past two seasons, Hendricks has been a been a study in contrast between the two highest levels of pro baseball. In 2011, he went 12-6 with a 3.36 ERA in Rochester, but in Minnesota he was 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in four starts.
Last season, the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder had a gaudy 2.20 ERA and 9-3 record with Rochester. He walked 21 and struck out 111 in 139 1/3 innings. But with the Twins, Hendricks went 1-8 with a 5.59 ERA. He walked 26 and struck out 50 in 85 1/3 innings.
"It happens," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "We've had a lot of guys who were former major leaguers who had to go back. Liam was very successful in Triple-A. He had darn near eye-popping numbers. It was a manner of graduation to this level. If he's able to prove some things at this level, he can do a heckuva job."
Anderson added, "If you're lucky, you get to the majors after just one time. Sometimes, it takes two, three, four times."
A big difference for Hendricks in the minors and majors was the gopher ball. He gave up 17 homers.
"You don't get away with as much," said Hendricks, who has just turned 24. "My ball was not moving as well as I'd like. I was trying to make the perfect pitch, and when I didn't it would wind up in the middle of the plate."
While humbled, Hendricks also said the experiences have benefited him. Working with Anderson and bullpen coach Bobby Cuellar has helped him mature and improve.
"I learned to take a step back from my mistakes and try to come back better and stronger," he said. "I had gotten too far ahead of myself. I was trying to do too much too soon. Instead of being a Cy Young candidate, I needed to go out there and pitch my game and compete and show I deserve to be up here for 15 years." Persevering in baseball
Hendricks' father was an Olympian discus thrower and his mom played netball, a version of basketball.
Young Liam played croquet and basketball and thought about focusing on Australian rules football. He almost gave up baseball at 13 when he was cut from his state team.
"I didn't like failing," he said.
But he stuck it out.
In 2008, he made an all-star team and went 3–0 with a 1.90 ERA and 25 strikeouts for the Perth Heat in the 2008 Claxton Shield. That drew him a spot on the Australian national team for the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, in which he allowed one unearned run and two hits and a walk while striking out six in five innings.
In 2010, Hendriks was selected for the 2010 All-Star Futures Game but developed appendicitis and was forced to sit out.
Hendricks also was a pretty good hitter, but Angels scouts told him his best chances were as a pitcher.
"A bunch of teams wanted a pitcher," he said. "I just went with the law of averages."
On the mound, Hendriks said he'll have the best numbers – and success – by being relaxed, locating his fastball and not "trying to trick people and get in a hole.
"Before I came over, I threw strikes. I have to keep doing that. I'm not going to get anybody out by missing pitches."
Twins catcher Joe Mauer says all Hendriks needs is time.
"He's had some success, and now he's trying to translate that," he said. "He's got good stuff, now he has to get out there and get more innings.
"You have to be more aware of everything. The pitcher has to have command of his stuff and be confident in throwing certain pitches in certain situations while he also has to field his position."
