2016 World Series Champion Kyle Hendricks Retires After 11 Seasons with Cubs

In a move that marks the end of an era, veteran pitcher Kyle Hendricks has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball. The 36-year-old spent the majority of his 11-year career with the Chicago Cubs, playing a crucial role in the team's historic 2016 World Series championship.

Hendricks, who made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2014, was never known for his overpowering stuff. Instead, he carved out a reputation as a "poor man's Maddux," relying on pinpoint control, movement, and deception to keep hitters off balance. Over his 11 seasons with the Cubs, Hendricks started 270 games, posting a 3.68 ERA in 1,580.1 innings pitched.

The 2016 season was the highlight of Hendricks' career, as he played a key part in the Cubs' long-awaited World Series triumph. After that championship, Hendricks remained a steady presence in the Cubs' rotation for several more years before making 31 starts for the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, his final MLB season.

As Hendricks hangs up his cleats, he can look back on an impressive career that defied expectations. The former eighth-round draft pick out of Dartmouth College carved out a niche as a crafty, cerebral pitcher, cementing his legacy as an integral member of the Cubs' 2016 title-winning team.