Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” swelled as Cubs fans rose from their Wrigley Field seats. The song that had so long been associated with Kyle Hendricks’ entrances was playing him off in his last game before testing free agency for the first time — what could be his last game as a Cub.
Hendricks looked toward the dugout and saw pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, who has been with the 11-year veteran essentially every step of the way in his major-league career, striding toward the mound to take him out of the game.
“You feel it all,” Hendricks said after the Cubs’ 3-0 win Saturday against the Reds. “You feel all the emotions, man. Just feel so lucky and just so happy.”
It was the final moment of a dominant performance on the mound. The only two hits he allowed were singles, a line drive to the right-center field gap just out of center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong’s reach, and a chopper to first baseman Michael Bush, who stumbled while fielding it.
“He was unbelievable,” left fielder Ian Happ said. “Couldn’t really draw that up any better.”
Before the game, manager Craig Counsell made sure the significance wouldn’t be lost on even the younger players.
“It’s a game in September with two teams that are not playing for a playoff spot, but you’re going to remember today,” he said he told some of them. “I’m just going to tell you, you’re going to remember it.”
Cubs fans knew it too. They took every opportunity – when Hendricks went out to the bullpen to warm up, when he walked back before the game, when he pitched out of the seventh inning, when he exited with one out in the eighth, when he stepped out of the dugout for the postgame on-field interview – to show him their appreciation with an ovation.
“I’ve got my whole family here today up in the stands; I’m sure they’re crying,” Hendricks said. “Just for the fans to give me that from the moment I showed up to the ballpark today, celebrating me – part of me hates it, I hate all that attention. But in the end, I know I have to soak in these moments. And that’s what the Wrigley fans are there for. They’re so special. They’re the best in the world. To play here in Wrigley Field, I’m just such a lucky guy.”
When Hendricks got back to the clubhouse after the game, there was a pyramid of baseball balls, each in its own plastic case, stacked in front of his locker. One for every out he threw Saturday.
Happ, Hendricks’ longest-standing current teammate, helped come up with the idea, along with clubhouse manager Danny Mueller and director of team travel Vijay Tekchandani.
With the team gathered, Happ read off Hendricks’ accomplishments – borrowing from an annual tradition shortstop Dansby Swanson started.
Things like Hendricks’ 7 ⅓ scoreless innings against the Dodgers in Game 6 of the 2016 National League Championship Series were on the list. But Happ’s favorite was a streak of 48 consecutive starts without giving up more than four earned runs, running from Aug. 21, 2015 through May 24, 2017.
“That’s unbelievable,” Happ said. “And then you think about where he ranks all time, Cubs numbers. He’s Top 10 in games started. This organization has been around a really long time, and they used to let guys go out there every day and start games.”
Hendricks’ start Saturday was his 270th for the Cubs. In a down and up season, it was one of his best of the year.
When Hendricks induced Santiago Espinal to ground out to first base for the first out of the eighth inning, Counsell tapped Hottovy on the shoulder.
The manager usually orchestrates pitching changes. But Counsell had known since before the game that he was going to pass that responsibility to Hottovy, who began his post-playing career with the Cubs the same year Hendricks broke into the majors. Counsell didn’t tell Hottovy until that moment.
“I can’t thank him enough,” Hendricks said of Hottovy, “just for sticking with me, making me better as a player, as a person. He’s just an incredible human being that brings it every single day. And I wouldn’t be who I am without him.”
Each Cubs infielder embraced Hendricks on the mound before he headed to the dugout. There, he was greeted by teammates and staff. Cubs fans remained on their feet.
Finally, Hendricks re-emerged, applauding them right back. He doffed his cap. He put his hand over his heart.