Liver puts Hendriks at risk in pandemic

A’s closer Liam Hen

driks was his typically breezy, selfdeprecating self on a video call with reporters Monday, and there was plenty of pet talk, which also is the norm for the animal lover.

There also was a slightly more serious topic at hand, though: For the first time, Hendriks disclosed that he has an autoimmune liver disorder that puts him in an atrisk category during the coronavirus pandemic. He wouldn’t consider it a major issue, except during the past week baseball has seen outbreaks of positive tests on multiple teams.

“It’s not anything that is like a huge thing,” said Hendriks, who was diagnosed with the disorder 13 years ago at age 18, then incurred a major flareup five years ago. “I’m managing myself, but it definitely gives me a little bit of pause when you see certain things going on around the league. But in saying that, I can only judge it off what I see here, and we’re doing the right things.”

Hendriks had a liver biopsy when he was a teen, and, he said, “Try holding your breath with a needle through your rib cage, that’s always fun. But other than that, it’s just a pill a day and just be smart with certain things. I can’t take certain painkillers. I think the last time I had a drink, I got a hot flash straightaway and then gave it to my wife and made a coffee. It’s just one of those things I need to be careful with . ... It’s like as long as I’m managing myself, I can have a normal life.” A’s reliever Jake Diek

man is considered at risk because of ulcerative colitis, and pitching coach

Scott Emerson has Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. All three are being extra cautious with safety procedures.

Hendriks joked — we assume he’s joking, because he has among the biggest and warmest personalities on the team — that he doesn’t actually like people very much, which works out well when safety protocols encourage ballplayers to stay in their hotel rooms.

“The previous years have trained me to be ready for this year, hanging out with the dogs and making sure I stay away from people,” he said. Hendriks and his wife,

Kristi, have numerous pets, including two dogs ( Jack and Stella) and two cats (Temperance and Winnie) who are with them in the East Bay. Liam and Kristi are feeding a posse of neighborhood squirrels “that are coming up and knocking on the door, saying, ‘Hey where’s our food?’ ” Plus, Kristi is dogsitting for A’s center fielder Ramón

Laureano while the team is in Seattle.

Hendriks said he believes Laureano’s dog, Macy, is less highenergy than her primary human, despite her interest in the squirrel squad.

“I feel like she’s a chocolate Lab. But she’s got a little pointer in her so she’s been pointing at the squirrels, like she’ll see a squirrel and then just stop and pause and freeze,” Hendriks said, demonstrating with a wideeyed stare. “She’s not quite as hyper as Ramón but she has her moments.”