White Sox Liam Hendriks receives the second consecutive year of AL relief

White Sox closer Liam Hendriks was named the 2021 Mariano Rivera American League facilitator of the year on Wednesday.

Hendriks is the first pitcher to earn an award in consecutive seasons. He took the honor at Athletics in 2019 before the Sox signed him as a free agent last season. He is the first White Sox pitcher to be named AL Facilitator of the Year since the award began in 2014.

Hendriks collected 38 bouts on 44 occasions and was 8-3 with 2.54 ERA, 113 overs, 0.73 WHIP, an average of 0.174 opponents and just seven walks in 69 relief matches this season. He joined Terry Forster (24 in 1974), Goose Gossage (26 in 1975) and Bobby Thigpen (57 in 1990) as the only Sox to lead the AL in combat.

Hendriks led the main league relief passes in overtime, WHIP and overtime and walks. His 16.14 overs mark set the main league record, surpassing the previous mark set by Clayton Kershaw in 2016 (15.64). He did not allow more than one walk in any performance in 2021.

Josh Hader of Brewers won the honor of NL.

Hendriks was named to his second All Star team this season.