Liam Hendriks knew the number as if it was his career saves or ERA: 680 days.

The 36-year-old right-hander was back on a major league roster Saturday with the Boston Red Sox, in position to make his first big league appearance since June 9, 2023.

“It feels like at least a thousand,” Hendriks said, smiling in the middle of the clubhouse. “It feels a lot longer than that. It’s been a long and arduous journey to get here.”

Hendriks, a native of Australia, was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2022 and the three-time All-Star returned to the mound on May 29, 2023. He made five appearances, went on the injured list with right elbow inflammation and had Tommy John surgery that Aug. 2.

Hendriks, an All-Star with Oakland in 2019 and the White Sox in 2021 and ’22 who has 116 saves in 13 major league seasons, made six minor league rehab appearances last August and three this spring. The Red Sox activated him from the 15-day injured list Saturday.

PITCHERS ON IL

Left-hander A.J. Puk was put on the 15-day injured list by the Arizona Diamondbacks with left elbow inflammation.

Puk has four saves and a 3.38 ERA in eight games with Arizona this season. He’s 17-20 with a 3.53 ERA and 26 saves in 212 games over a six-year career with three teams.

Puk had Tommy John surgery in 2018.

Left-hander Martín Pérez was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Chicago White Sox because of inflammation of his pitching elbow.

The 34-year-old Pérez, who is 1-1 in four starts this year and 91-88 over 14 big league seasons, worked three innings in Friday’s 10-3 loss to the Red Sox before leaving with the injury. He took the loss, giving up four runs and five hits.

Chicago signed him to $5 million, 1-year contract in January.