Hendriks an AllStar, and firmly the A’s closer
SEATTLE — Liam Hendriks, who went from discarded to opener to Oakland’s bona fide closer, is putting up some of the best numbers in the majors this season, and now the Australian reliever is an American League AllStar.
Hendriks, 30, was named a replacement for Tampa Bay’s Charlie Morton on Friday, and before the A’s game against the Mariners manager Bob Melvin indicated that Hendiks is no longer just the fillin closer, he’s handling those duties full time based on his standout performance.
“At this point, Liam deserves to be there right now,” Melvin said.
Hendriks then nailed down the team’s 52 win over Seattle with a 123 ninth inning, his fourth save since taking over from Blake Treinen on June 21.
Hendriks had resigned himself to not making the AllStar team, so when Melvin gave him the good news, he was “shocked,” he said. “I was a little disappointed when the team was first named, but when they released the names, I can’t argue with the relievers they took; they’re all having incredible seasons. So
I’d been convincing myself it wasn’t that important.”
Hendriks is especially proud to be the third Australian ever to be named an AllStar after former Milwaukee catcher Dave Nilsson (1999) and former A’s closer Grant Balfour (2013).
“It’s cool,” Hendriks said. ““It’s such an honor, trying to gain credit for the Australian Baseball League and get the momentum going over there. Anytime an Australian guy does anything over here, it positively impacts the game there.”
Hendriks doesn’t know Balfour but is aware that he had a fiery reputation on the mound.
“What he’s done for Australian baseball has been huge,” Hendriks said. “Obviously, there’s a lot going on — I mean, we’re both a little crazy. I don’t yell quite as much, but I have my moments. I’ve kind of channeled a little bit seeing what he’s been able to do.
“It’s a pretty cool ride right now. I’m just excited to be on it.”
Hendriks is 30 with four saves, all of them since Treinen went on the IL last month, and his 1.27 ERA is the best among majorleague relievers. He also has recorded 62 strikeouts in 41 appearances, including two as an opener.
Hendriks has worked a careerhigh 152⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings; he hasn’t given up a run in 27 of his past 29 appearances and has a 0.78 ERA in that time.
Hendriks moved into the closer role when Treinen incurred a right shoulder strain last month, and Melvin had said Wednesday that Treinen would regain the closer role once he’d had a nonhighleverage situation. But Treinen had to work in a tough situation that night and took the loss in the 12th inning in his first outing off the IL. Treinen is now 23 with a 4.29 ERA and opponents are batting .254 against him, compared to .201 against Hendriks.
So the A’s will ride Hendriks as long as he’s effective, and should Treinen regain his effectiveness, he would be ready in the event Hendriks stumbles.
Treinen was an AllStar last season, and he put up a recordsetting season with the lowest ERA (0.78) ever for a pitcher with a minimum of 80 innings. Hendriks, on the other hand, was designated for assignment last June, cleared waivers and got back on track at TripleA Nashville, was terrific in September as Oakland’s opener, and started the team’s wildcard loss at Yankee Stadium.
“Twelve months and three days ago, I accepted my outright assignment to TripleA,” Hendriks said. “It’s been a whirlwind, for sure. But it was almost necessary for me to go down there and gain perspective, get rid of the ego and be like, ‘OK, it doesn’t matter, regardless of how I’m pitching, I don’t deserve to pitch in whatever role, I’m just going to go out and pitch whatever inning they want me to, if it’s opening, if it’s the second inning, if it’s long relief.’ Just that change of mindset has helped me to become what I am now.”
Hendriks joins third baseman Matt Chapman as the A’s AllStar representatives.
“It’s awesome, he deserves it,” Chapman said. “It will be a good experience for both of us, for sure, both of our first ones together.” Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser