Following the Dodgers’ decisive win over the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series last night, veteran reliever Daniel Hudson told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) that he is retiring as a champion. Hudson, a 15-season MLB veteran, has played with teams such as the Dodgers, Padres, Nationals, Blue Jays, Pirates, Diamondbacks, and White Sox throughout his extensive career.
Hudson, now 37, was initially drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round in 2008. He was a quick riser, debuting in the majors in 2009, only a year after being drafted. After making just nine appearances with Chicago, Hudson was traded to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Edwin Jackson. In Arizona, Hudson shone as a starter, finishing his debut season with a 1.69 ERA and 3.22 FIP across 79 2/3 innings in 11 starts, leaving a strong impression on the Diamondbacks’ fanbase.
Hudson’s stellar performance seemed to indicate Arizona had acquired a reliable starter for the long haul. His first full season with the team in 2011 supported that promise, as he recorded a 3.49 ERA over 222 innings across 33 starts. Unfortunately, his career took a challenging turn in 2012 with a series of setbacks, culminating in Tommy John surgery in July that year. After missing all of 2013 while rehabbing, Hudson returned to the mound briefly in late 2014.
Although his days as a starter ended due to his elbow issues, Hudson found new life as a reliever. His first season as a bullpen arm for Arizona saw him post a 3.86 ERA across 67 2/3 innings with a 24.5% strikeout rate. Over the next few years, Hudson moved between teams as a dependable middle reliever, albeit with mixed results. From 2015 to 2018, he pitched for Arizona, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles, posting a 96 ERA+ and a 23.3% strikeout rate.
However, Hudson’s career took a major upswing in 2019 after signing a one-year deal with the Blue Jays. He delivered a 3.00 ERA across 48 innings in the first half, drawing the attention of the Nationals, who acquired him as they contended for an NL Wild Card spot. Hudson provided critical support in D.C.’s bullpen with a remarkable 1.44 ERA over 24 innings and played a key role in the postseason. His memorable save in the NL Wild Card Game and shutout frame to close out Game 7 of the World Series were crucial to the Nationals’ first championship.
Hudson remained with the Nationals through 2021, eventually joining the Padres after a trade, though San Diego did not make the playoffs. In 2022, Hudson re-signed with the Dodgers, where he showed flashes of brilliance, posting a 2.69 ERA and a 26.9% strikeout rate when healthy. Unfortunately, ACL and MCL injuries kept him sidelined for most of 2022 and 2023. Hudson stayed with Los Angeles on a minor league deal and made the Dodgers’ Opening Day bullpen this season. With a 3.00 ERA across 63 innings and 10 saves in 2023, Hudson was effective, despite a rough outing in Game 4 of the World Series. Overall, he provided solid relief, throwing scoreless frames in five of his seven postseason appearances as the Dodgers clinched his second championship.
In total, Hudson ends his career with a 3.74 ERA (111 ERA+), a 3.76 FIP, 855 1/3 regular-season innings, 65 wins, 43 saves, and 817 strikeouts in 537 games. MLB Trade Rumors extends its best wishes to Hudson in retirement as he steps away as a two-time World Series champion.
