Pitcher who stymied Guardians in 2016 World Series calls it a career

There are plenty of Cubs who stepped up for the Chicago Cubs against Cleveland in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. 

Ben Zobirst picked up the big hit in extra innings. Kyle Schwarber had three hits. Kris Bryant made the final throw to close out the series. 

But none of that had happened without Kyle Hendricks, who allowed two runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings to keep the Cubs in the game early. 

On Monday night, Hendricks officially called it a career after a 12 year career that spanned 11 seasons with the Cubs and one final season with the Angels.

Kyle Hendricks officially retires nearly 10 years after shutting down Guardians in Game 7 of the World Series

But even though Hendricks put together a long career filled with plenty of ups and downs, his performance against the Guardians in 2016 will forever stand out in infamy in Northeast Ohio. 

That 2016 season was Hendricks at the height of his powers, as he finished the year 16-8 with a 2.13 ERA (the lowest in MLB) in 190 innings He helped push the Cubs to the World Series by tossing 7 2/3 innings against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers in Game 6 of the 2016 NLCS before tossing nine innings in the World Series. 

Up until he joined the Angels last offseason, he and José Ramírez were the only two players remaining on the Cubs or Guardians’ roster from that World Series who hadn’t left and come back (looking at you, Carlos Santana). 

Ramírez faced off against Kyle Hendricks four times in that World Series, where Ramírez went 3-for-4. 

While Hendricks’ fastball barely broke 90 miles per hour for most of his career, he still put together a fine career thanks to his crafty arsenal and understanding of the strike zone. 

He originally came up with the Rangers before being traded to the Cubs as a prospect in July 2012 in exchange for Ryan Dempster. 

He saw his first MLB action in 2014 before breaking out in 2015 and ‘16 at the same time that Anthony Rizzo, Jake Arrieta, Javier Báez and Bryant were called up to form the Cubs’ core. 

He signed a four-year, $55.5 million extension with the Cubs ahead of the 2019 season that included an option for the 2024 season, which was picked up. He posted an ERA above 4.50 in four of his last five seasons, and finished 2025 with a 4.76 ERA in 31 starts with the Angels. 

Hendricks only ended up making three regular season appearances against the Guardians, all of which came after the 2016 World Series. 

He allowed one run in six innings against Cleveland in 2020 before tossing six shutout innings the next year. He made one start against them in 2025 with the Angels where he allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings.