The storylines do not get much more poetic than this — a pitcher once beloved by the Cubs, is now preparing to face the team that defined his career. It is not just another game for him; it is a meeting of past and present. After 11 seasons with the Cubs, including that unforgettable 2016 World Series run, the veteran now finds himself suiting up for the Angels, set to pitch against the former team for the first — and possibly last — time.

Bob Nightengale from USA Today said, “It should be quite the emotional game Sunday for Los Angeles Angels veteran starter Kyle Hendricks, who will face the Chicago Cubs, his former team of 11 years, for the first time in his career. It also may be the last time. Hendricks, 35, could retire after the season.” The gravity of those statements is not lost on anyone. After all, this is not just related to facing old teammates — it is related to closing a chapter that has shaped Kyle Hendricks’ life professionally and personally.

For Kyle Hendricks, the link to the Cubs runs deep and this weekend has been a whirlwind of feelings. From the pregame press conference where familiar reporters greeted the veteran like an old friend, to seeing the faces of individuals who watched Kyle Hendricks grow into “The Professor,” it has been a homecoming in every sense — just in a distinctive uniform. “After winning in that city, the number of times that you get stopped by people just saying, thank you… They just want to tell you a story of where they were, where their grandparents were, their parents… that’s the special, special part of it,” Kyle Hendricks reflected.

Such a sentiment encapsulates why Sunday’s game looks so vital. It is more than a box score and a stat line; it is a moment of gratitude, closure and legacy. Hendricks’ resurgence with the Angels this season — a 1.2 WAR and enhanced command after a tough 2024 — proves the star still has plenty left. However, as Kyle Hendricks takes the field against the Cubs, the looming concern is not whether the star can still pitch — it is whether he is ready to step away on his own terms.

As Sunday’s emotional matchup looms large, it is clear Hendricks is not just leaving behind a legacy of data and moments, he is actively shaping the future of those who will carry the game forward.

Professor Hendricks Is Teaching New Students

It is funny how the MLB works sometimes. You spend a season chasing greatness and when you have caught it — when you have held that World Series trophy and etched your name in history — the game quietly shifts your role. For the former Cubs star, that role now contains being a steadying availability in a team full of pitchers still figuring out who they are. Angels’ Ron Washington captured it perfectly: “He’s been through it, so he knows how to do it.” That knowledge? It has become just as valuable as any pitch the star throws.

What makes Hendricks’ mentorship so effective is that it does not feel like mentorship at all. The veteran does not lecture, he does not preach — he simply exists as “The Professor,” approachable and willing. Young stars like Reid Detmers and José Soriano gravitate toward Hendricks, eager to pick apart his brain related to sequencing, attacking hitters and handling failure.

“He’s probably getting a little annoyed with me,” Detmers joked. “No, he’s been awesome. Easy to talk to, willing to talk to you… It’s huge, especially for the guys in the locker room who are pretty young and want to learn”, he added. The veteran could be closing in on the end of his career, however, Hendricks’ fingerprints on this Angels staff are already everywhere.

Hendricks’ journey has been nothing short of remarkable and this chapter only adds to the veteran’s enduring legacy. Whether this emotional game marks the end and simply a turning point, Hendricks’ effect on the Cubs and MLB remains undeniable. Stay tuned as the baseball world watches how this story ultimately unfolds.