Dodgers’ Daniel Hudson Opens Up About Retirement Plans
At 37 years old, with a twice-repaired elbow and surgeries on both knees in the past two years, Daniel Hudson has been one of the most under-the-radar signings from the Dodgers’ “billion-dollar offseason.”
Hudson contemplated retirement last season but decided to sign a minor-league deal to return to the Dodgers with a $2 million guarantee.
The reliever couldn’t have predicted his success, which has now given him hope for a possible return next year.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Hudson said. “I kind of went into the last contract thinking that was probably gonna be it. Once I figured out I wanted to give it another shot, we’re just kind of taking it year by year, kind of listening to where we’re at at the end of the season.”
Hudson recently cleared one of the biggest hurdles of his career when he pitched a pair of scoreless innings in Atlanta against the Braves.
It was his first time back since tearing his ACL there on June 24, 2022. Almost 10 years earlier, on June 26, 2012, his elbow gave out, leading to the first of two Tommy John surgeries — both injuries happening in Atlanta, though that first one was at Turner Field. Between the two ballparks, Hudson’s career ERA was 7.94 over 22.2 innings heading into Monday.
“Just coming here for whatever reason, I just kind of got my ass kicked,” Hudson said. “I told somebody I got bad juju here.”
When he returned to the clubhouse after Friday night, a text from his wife awaited him. When he checked his phone, he found a GIF poking fun at him. It made him laugh.
“That’s a little hurdle to get over,” Hudson said.
After throwing another scoreless inning on Saturday, Hudson could finally breathe again. He lowered his season ERA to 2.48 and didn’t get hurt.
In fact, Hudson has been one of the most important arms in the Dodgers’ bullpen all season.
He has thrown more innings this year (59) than any season since 2019, when he was on the mound when the final out of the World Series was recorded. Only Alex Vesia has thrown more innings than Hudson out of the Dodgers’ bullpen this season.
Hudson’s been a mostly reliable arm during a season that has seen several Dodgers pitchers rotate through the injured list. And even though his knees are still giving him trouble, he has been adjusting his mechanics and trying to find his groove again after posting a 4.87 ERA since the All-Star break.
Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
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