Camp Stories: Daniel Hudson won’t go down without a fight
by Cary Osborne
Sticktuitiveness might be a word for it.
Relief pitcher Daniel Hudson prefers the word “stubborn.”
The soon-to-be 37-year-old could have called it a career — and an impactful one at that. He could have stayed home with the satisfaction of 14 Major League seasons, including closing out the 2019 World Series for the Washington Nationals, on his resume. But he has to go out on his terms.
“I didn’t want it to get taken away from me like it was,” Hudson said.
Thursday was meaningful for the veteran right-hander and Dodger non-roster invitee. He faced Dodger teammates in live batting practice at Camelback Ranch. It was his first time facing batters in nearly six months.
Pitching to Major Leaguers has been all too infrequent because the last two seasons have been unkind.
Hudson was a key member of the Dodger bullpen when he tore the ACL in his left knee on June 24, 2022.
This time last year, he was at Camelback Ranch in Spring Training eyeing a return on Opening Day. But the knee did not cooperate.
He finally returned to a Major League game on June 30.
During his third appearance of the season on July 5, he sprained a ligament in his right knee in the ninth inning. He gutted it out to earn the final outs of the game and earn a save.
It was his final appearance of the 2023 season.
Hudson worked his way back into the conversation for a spot on the National League Division Series roster, but time ran out.
Now his clock starts again to make the 2024 club as a non-roster invite.
Hudson was a free agent this offseason but chose to return to the Dodgers instead of waiting for a potential Major League deal.
“Once I figured out that I wanted to give it another shot, I only wanted to come back here,” Hudson said.
He took a Minor League deal, which gives him a shot to make a deep Dodger bullpen.
There was a reason why the Dodgers were the only club he wanted to play for.
“I felt like this organization has really taken good care of me and my family the last couple of years and they didn’t have to,” Hudson said. “I feel like I kind of owe it to them to try to hold my side of the bargain because I feel like I kind of let some people down here in the last couple years, even though it obviously hasn’t been my fault. (Now), I’m just trying to help us win a World Series.”
Hudson said it’s in his nature to take responsibility for what happened the last two years, even if they were freak injuries.
Ronald Acuña Jr. topped a Hudson pitch on June 24, 2022, in front of the batter’s circle. Hudson’s follow-through on the pitch took him to the first base side. He shifted to try and grab the soft grounder and his knee gave out.
The cruelty of a second knee injury was a reminder of past adversity.
Hudson had Tommy John surgery in 2012. On the road back to the Majors, he tore the UCL in his right elbow again and had a second Tommy John surgery in 2013.
He returned in 2014, kicking off the second act of his career as a relief pitcher — which has included two stints with the Dodgers, one in 2018 and later the 2022–2023 seasons.
Hudson is not far removed from a 2022 season when his four-seam fastball averaged 97.0 mph. His slider was outstanding just a few years ago. Opponents were 13-for-102 (.127) against his slider in 2021–2022.
He got to test them out on Thursday.
“The ball was coming out better than it was last year at any point, even when I got quote unquote healthy,” Hudson said. “Execution today wasn’t great. I gave up a few hard-hit balls and a walk, but it is what it is. It’s Feb. 15. I’d rather get it out of the way now.”
There’s more fight to come.
“I still feel like I have some left in the tank,” Hudson said. “To be able to come out here and try and compete again and show that I still got it in there a little bit — to actually show it to myself more than anybody — but I still think I can help the team win a World Series, especially with my arm.”
