CHICAGO — An era has ended on the North Side. According to reporter Maddie Lee, Kyle Hendricks — the unsung hero of the Chicago Cubs and a symbol of calm amid chaos — has officially announced his retirement after 12 seasons in MLB.
Hendricks, 35, played for the Cubs for 11 seasons before ending his career with one final year with the Los Angeles Angels (2025). And now, after more than a decade of making memories, “The Professor” — as he was affectionately known — has chosen to leave the field quietly, just as he lived and played.
“I never needed the spotlight,” Hendricks said in a brief statement. “I just wanted to go out there, do my job, and give my all for the people who believed in me — especially the Chicago fans.”
The words were short and simple — but they captured the essence of a player the city has never forgotten.
In an era of fastballs and fiery styles, Hendricks went his own way — throwing with intelligence, control, and near-perfect accuracy. With a career ERA of 3.42, more than 1,400 strikeouts, and countless postseason performances, he became the most reliable pillar of the Cubs’ golden era.
Fans will never forget the historic 2016 season, when Hendricks threw seven shutout innings in Game 6 of the NLCS to send the Cubs to the World Series after a 71-year wait. A month later, he pitched the opening pitch in a legendary Game 7, helping to secure the first championship in 108 years—a moment forever etched in the hearts of Cubs fans.
“He doesn’t yell, he doesn’t show off—but every pitch Kyle throws is a reminder that calm can change history,” former manager Joe Maddon said.
Even after being traded to the Angels in 2025, Hendricks still has his heart set on Wrigley Field. He returns to the city regularly during the winter, visiting former teammates and spending time with the community programs he started.
“Chicago is home,” Hendricks said. “No matter what jersey I wear, I’m still a Cub.”
And to fans, Hendricks will always be a Cub—forever.
No big press conferences, no tears on the field. It was a short message, a thank you, and a quiet legacy. But for Chicago fans, it made the moment all the more poignant.
As the sun set over Wrigley Field, people remembered the slight figure, the focused face, and the inch-perfect pitch of Kyle Hendricks. An image that symbolized the golden age of the Cubs, professionalism, dedication, and the belief that “the ordinary can be extraordinary.”
Now, as “The Professor” writes the final chapter of his career, MLB lost a pitcher, but Chicago lost a piece of its soul.
“Thank you Kyle — for teaching us that winning doesn’t have to be loud,” one fan wrote on social media. “Just believe and throw, like you did for the past 12 years.”
Hendricks leaves MLB with all the humility that defined him. No fuss, no fanfare — just a quick hello, and an everlasting legacy on the pitcher’s mound where Chicago’s heart still beats for “The Professor.”
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