Liam Hendriks grew up watching the Boston Red Sox on television in Western Australia, now he’ll get a chance to pitch for the storied Major League Baseball outfit.

The Red Sox announced on Tuesday they had signed the 35-year-old free agent right-hander to a $US10 million ($A15 million) two-year contract with a mutual option for 2026.

“It’s an exciting time, finally happening, and now we get to talk about it a little more,” Perth-born Hendriks said.

“It’s one of the teams I followed a lot as a kid. It was one of the only ones that came on TV when I was back in Australia,” he said.

“The Red Sox and Cardinals are two teams that seemed to be on a lot.”

Hendriks is the reigning American League comeback player of the year, having returned to the mound on May 29 after being diagnosed with stage four non- Hodgkin lymphoma in December 2022.

His 2023 season ended after only five appearances when he was placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation on June 12. That eventually led to ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on August 2.

“It hasn’t been great,” he said of last season being shortened by the elbow injury.

“I’ve been pitching through stuff, but that’s how it is. That’s what you’re paid to do, you pitch through stuff.”

“I’m pretty sure I knew in my head, I knew it was gone before I even started my rehab assignment.

“But I refused to not get back. I would have pitched left-handed if I made it back last year.”

A three-time All-Star - with Oakland in 2019 and the Chicago White Sox in 2021 and 2022 - Hendriks knows he brings a lot of energy to a clubhouse.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora noticed it right away.

“A lot of annoying sayings,” a laughing Hendriks said of what he brings to the team environment.

“Alex said this morning, ’If you see a constant buzz around the clubhouse, it’s because Liam hasn’t shut up’. That’s who I am.”

The Australian pitcher is working on his post-surgery recovery and has targeted an ambitious return date of the July 30 trade deadline.

“Everything is going well, (Red Sox medical staff) seemed pleased with the way it’s going,” he said.

“They saw me throw for the first time today.

“Now it’s just a matter of me trying to poke and prod them to go as fast as I can, and them trying to reign me back in a safe way of doing things.”