After having his 2022 season end early due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Daniel Hudson was determined to play a key role in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen last year.
Unfortunately, the veteran relief pitcher dealt with lingering discomfort in his left knee and also began to experience right ankle tendinitis during Spring Training. That led to Hudson beginning the season on the 15-day injured list and his 2023 debut was delayed until the end of June.
Hudson was back on the mound for the Dodgers roughly one month after revealing he needed a cortisone injection to get over a final hurdle in his recovery from the torn ACL.
“It was more inflammation and tendinitis in the patella area where they took the graft from,” Hudson explained. “It was just kind of bugging me a little bit and hampering me toward the end of camp. Tried to push through it and just couldn’t get over the hump. So we got a little bit aggressive with the injection, and it’s feeling better now.”
While the Dodgers eagerly welcomed Hudson back into the fold, he made just three appearances before suffering a season-ending MCL sprain in his right knee. Manager Dave Roberts later left open the possibility of Hudson pitching again in 2023, but it was going to require the Dodgers to reach at least the National League Championship Series.
They never provided Hudson that opportunity due to getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series.
So Hudson’s 2023 season entailed making just three appearances, collecting five strikeouts while issuing three walks and allowing two hits over three scoreless innings.
Daniel Hudson 2023 highlight
Hudson’s final time pitching for the Dodgers saw him convert a dramatic save against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 5. He let out a show of emotion upon recording the final out, and it initially was thought to be related to the high-pressure moment.
However, it later became known that Hudson sprained his MCL through during the ninth inning but pushed through to wrap up the Dodgers’ 6-4 win.
The save was Hudson’s first since June 8, 2022.
2024 outlook
The Dodgers declined their $6.5 million team option on Hudson for the 2024 season, which didn’t include a buyout. He pondered retirement but re-signed with the Dodgers on a Minor League contract.
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