Red Sox’s Liam Hendriks Throws First Live Batting Practice Session

Liam Hendriks took a major first step in making his way into the Red Sox bullpen on Tuesday afternoon when he threw his first live batting practice session since Tommy John surgery last summer.

As his Red Sox teammates looked on from behind the mound and in the dugout, Hendriks threw 17 pitches to Danny Jansen and Nick Sogard.

“It felt alright. I felt like the ball was coming out alright,” Hendriks told reporters in Kansas City before the Red Sox took the field against the Royals. “But it feels, right now, I have to put more effort into getting where I need to be.”

Hendriks added: “It’s something I deal with every spring training where you kind of forget how deep you can dig. Whereas once you get in the middle of the season, it’s kind of a little easier to do that. Whereas, right now, I have to remind myself subconsciously how deep I can dig into it.”

With one session under Hendriks’ belt, Red Sox manager Alex Cora outlined the 35-year-old pitcher’s next steps.

“It’s huge, man. He’s been working hard,” Cora told reporters in Kansas City. “This is something we talked to him about in the offseason. He kind of targeted around this time. Actually, he targeted pitching at the big league level, so hopefully, it’s a good one today.

“I think the plan is three (more live BPs) and then we go, I don’t know how long the rehab assignment is going to be, but the way things are going — he’s going to be a part of this (postseason push).”

Hendriks’ next live batting practice session is scheduled for Saturday. He set lofty standards for himself and feels he fell just shy.

“Good enough for everyone else is not good enough for me,” he said. “Sounds a little bit conceited and sounds a little bit egotistical, but that’s kind of the way I have to pitch, like an egotistical narcissist on the mound. Just knowing that whoever steps in the box, it doesn’t matter who they are I’m better than them.”

Cora also provided updates for injured Red Sox infielders Vaughn Grissom and Triston Casas who continue to rehab with Triple-A Worcester.

Grissom is nearing his allotted time in the minors while Casas is still working toward playing three straight games.