White Sox: Liam Hendriks blasts Josh Donaldson for Tim Anderson ‘Jackie’ comment

Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks came to the defense of Tim Anderson, calling out Yankees slugger Josh Donaldson in the process.

Donaldson called Anderson ‘Jackie’, in reference to a 2019 article in which Anderson said he considered himself the modern-day Jackie Robinson.

The Yankees third baseman claimed it was an inside joke between the two, but given Anderson doesn’t appear to like Donaldson — as well as the subsequent reaction on Saturday — that’s not a comment Anderson took kindly to.

On Sunday morning, Liam Hendriks was the latest member of the White Sox to call out Donaldson, joining the likes of Yasmani Grandal and Tony La Russa.

“Usually you have inside jokes with people you get along with — not people who don’t get along at all. So that statement right there was complete bullshit,” Hendriks said.

White Sox: Liam Hendriks calls out Josh Donaldson

Anderson explained why he was upset with Donaldson postgame:

“He just made a disrespectful comment,” Anderson said. “Basically he was trying to call me Jackie Robinson. ‘What’s up, Jackie?’ I don’t play like that. I don’t really play at all. I wasn’t really going to bother nobody today, but he made the comment and you know it was disrespectful and I don’t think it was called for. It was unnecessary.”

Hendriks also makes a valid point — considering these two don’t seem to like each other, why would Donaldson assume there was an inside joke between the two?

Donaldson will return to the lineup on Sunday afternoon in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. We’ll see if there’s any planned retribution, or if the White Sox would rather let their play do the talking.