Dakota Ryan Hudson (born September 15,1994) is an American professional baseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies. He made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Cardinals and signed with the Rockies before the 2024 season.
As a freshman for the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2014,Hudson started five games and made one relief appearance. He went 1–2 with a 4.67 ERA and 10 strikeouts. As a sophomore in 2015,he made 17 appearances in relief,going 1–1 with a 4.32 ERA with 26 strikeouts.[3] Hudson then pitched for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2015 before returning to starting his junior year in 2016.[4][5][6][7] Hudson started 17 games for the Bulldogs,going 9–5 with a 2.55 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 113 innings pitched. He was named to the All-SEC First Team.[8]
Professional career
St. Louis Cardinals (2016–2023)
Minor leagues
Hudson in the 2017 Texas League All-Star Game.
Hudson was considered a top prospect for the 2016 Major League Baseball draft,[9][10] and he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round,with the 34th overall selection. He signed for a $2million signing bonus and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Cardinals,and after pitching four scoreless innings in four games,was promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals,where he finished the season with a 1–1 record and 0.96 ERA in eight appearances out of the bullpen. He began 2017 with the Springfield Cardinals and was named the starting pitcher for the Texas League All-Star Game,which took place on June 27.[11] After earning a 9–4 record and 2.53 ERA in 18 starts,he was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds on July 29. For Memphis,he started seven games,posting a 1–1 record and 4.42 ERA.[12] He was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year.[13]
Hudson was a non-roster invitee to 2018 spring training.[14] He began the 2018 season in Memphis,and was named the starting pitcher for the Pacific Coast League All-Star Game that was played on July 11.[15] In July 2018,he was selected to represent the Cardinals in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game.[16]
Major leagues
The Cardinals promoted Hudson to the major leagues for the first time on July 27,2018.[17] He spent the remainder of the season in St. Louis,compiling a 4–1 record with a 2.63 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in 27+1⁄3 relief innings pitched.[18]
Hudson was named St. Louis' fifth starter going into the 2019 season.[19] Over 33 games (32 starts) during the regular season, he went 16–7 with a 3.35 ERA, striking out 136 over 174+2⁄3 innings, and had the highest ground balls percentage in the majors (56.9%), and the lowest fly balls percentage in the majors (21.3%).[20] He led all major league pitchers in walks, with 86, had the highest walks/9 innings ratio in the major leagues (4.43), had the highest walks percentage in the major leagues (11.4%), and had the worst strikeouts/walks ratio in the majors (1.58).[21][22]
On September 28, 2020, Hudson underwent Tommy John surgery.[23] On the year, Hudson had recorded a 2.77 ERA over 39 innings pitched.[24]
On April 15, 2021, Hudson was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery.[25] He was activated on September 24, and pitched 8+2⁄3 innings for the Cardinals in 2021. In 2022 he was 8–7 with a 4.45 ERA, and had the lowest strikeout:walk ratio among major league pitchers, at 1.3.
On January 13, 2023, Hudson agreed to a one-year, $2.65million contract with the Cardinals, avoiding salary arbitration.[26] Hudson was optioned to Triple-A Memphis to begin the 2023 season. Manager Oliver Marmol told reporters that the move was in part to help build up Hudson’s velocity.[27] He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 17.
Colorado Rockies (2024)
On January 5, 2024, Hudson signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies.[28] In 18 starts for the Rockies, he struggled to a 2–12 record and a 6.17 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 50 walks across 89 innings pitched. On July 7, Hudson was designated for assignment following the promotion of Tanner Gordon.[29] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes on July 11.[30] On August 10, Hudson's contract was selected by the Rockies and he was added to the active roster.[31] However, the next day he was placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.[32] Hudson was transferred to the 60–day injured list on September 5, ending his season.[33] On October 18, he was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Albuquerque, but rejected the assignment and elected free agency.[34]
Los Angeles Angels (2025–present)
On December 9, 2024, Hudson signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels.[35] He elected free agency on November 6.[36]
Personal life
Hudson proposed to girlfriend Ashlen Cyr in March 2017. The two were married on December 9, 2017, and their first child, a son, was born on May 7, 2018.[37]
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