Cubs star Kyle Hendricks is preparing for a “unique” start Saturday at Wrigley Field

When right-hander Kyle Hendricks jogs to the mound at Wrigley Field just before 1:20 p.m. Saturday, he will repeat the steps he took at the start of 135 other home starts in a Cubs uniform.

“It’s going to be tough,” Hendricks said this week. “It will be very unique.” I'm trying to keep all my feelings (inside). I try to stay on task and focus on pitching, one thing at a time. And that’s something I’ll have to work really hard on at Wrigley this weekend.”

After 11 major league seasons with the Cubs, Saturday will be Hendricks' final start before he enters free agency for the first time in his career. He knows that in addition to his excitement at taking the mound, he will also be overcome by mixed emotions at certain moments, such as when the fans in the left field stands to greet him on his way to warm-ups in the bullpen, etc., as he leaves after his last pitch goes to the dugout.

Hendricks, now 34, has been with the Cubs organization since he was 22 and was acquired from the Rangers in the Ryan Dempster trade. Since then, he has won an ERA title, won a groundbreaking World Series, appeared in 12 playoff games, married and become a father.

“Absolutely wild,” he said, looking back on his time in Chicago. “I had no idea what I was doing. In 2014, when you get drafted, you just try to stay silent and do nothing wrong. You learn from the older people, the veterans. And so now, more than ten years later, I suddenly feel like a completely different person. “I matured and grew up and became the man I am today because of what happened in Chicago.”

It's fitting that Hendricks' final game with the Cubs will be against the Reds. He made his debut against them on July 10, 2014. All he needed was a tough first inning — walking the first two batters he faced and giving up three runs — to settle in. And he proved that year after year. An elite commando could have consequences as devastating as speed.

Just as Chicago shaped Hendricks, “The Professor” shaped the Cubs’ success in that era as much as any other player.

The last few seasons have been up and down for Hendricks and he was sidelined for almost eleven months due to a shoulder injury. But when it came time for the Cubs to decide whether to pick up his contract option for this year, his resurgent 2023 season made the decision obvious.

That prepared him for a season that tested him in ways he had never experienced before.

“When I got called into the office, I thought, 'I know, this is terrible,'” he said of his early-season struggles. “This is so bad. 'I'm sorry.' I apologize. “I'm giving it everything I've got and trying to get the work done, but the results just haven't been there as quickly.”

He used a stint on the injured list and a stint in the bullpen to turn his season around. And he became more consistent toward the end of the season, posting a 3.92 ERA in September.

“I don't think he's ever gone through this before,” said president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, “where he just felt kind of lost in terms of, 'I don't think the way I normally do “I don't think I'm pitching like I normally do.” And for him to redouble his efforts to get back there was really impressive.”

Hendricks knows how close his season came to a premature end. If other pitchers hadn't been injured, he might not start Saturday.

“You’re never sure how you’re going to respond to adversity,” Hendricks said. “And I’m just proud that I at least provided a little bit of value, played some good games here after all of this and didn’t just have everything go completely downhill and fall apart for me.”

“So I know there's a lot more in me when it comes to baseball because of that. And I'm just super happy that I still have the love and passion for the game.”

That's why Hendricks continues to move forward, even though his time with the Cubs may be over.

“My family is excited to take a different trip and experience something new when this happens,” Hendricks said. “If not, if we end up here again, all the better.” We feel comfortable, we know what to expect. But I'm just looking forward to hopefully getting an opportunity to have someone give me the ball and give me a chance to pitch. This is it.''