Kyle Hendricks, 2016 Cubs World Series Hero and 'The Professor,' Announces Retirement After 12 Seasons

Kyle Hendricks, known as “The Professor” for his precision pitching, is set to retire after 12 big league seasons, turning 36 on December 7. A key part of the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship team, Hendricks spent 11 seasons in Chicago, recording a 3.68 ERA over 276 games (270 starts) and ranking seventh in franchise strikeouts. He won the MLB ERA title in 2016 with a 2.13 ERA, finishing third in NL Cy Young voting. His iconic postseason performances included 7 1/3 scoreless innings in the 2016 NLCS Game 6 and starting Game 7 of the World Series. After his final Cubs appearance in 2024, he signed a one-year deal with his hometown Angels, where he posted a 4.76 ERA in 31 starts in 2025, concluding a career with a 3.79 overall ERA.