Daniel Hudson was one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ most effective relief pitchers before tearing the ACL in his left knee last June, which required season-ending surgery.
The estimated recovery time for Hudson was six to nine months following the operation. Near the end of the 2022 season, he was recovering well, which led to optimism the veteran would be ready for 2023 Opening Day.
With Spring Training now underway, Hudson’s ACL has continued to progress well, but tendinitis in his right ankle has popped up which put the right-hander’s status for Opening Day in question, according to Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Daniel Hudson’s left knee is better after an ACL tear ended his season last year. However, the Dodgers reliever is now dealing with ankle tendinitis that has slowed his recovery process and left his status for opening day in doubt.
“I’m shooting for being ready for opening day,” Hudson said. “But I’m little bit behind than where I would like to be throwing-wise.”
Prior to the knee injury, Hudson went 2-3 with a 2.22 ERA, 2.05 FIP and 0.90 WHIP over 25 games. He additionally had a 30.9% strikeout rate that was on pace to be the second-highest average of his career.
At the time of the injury, Hudson noted it was “extremely frustrating” but expressed optimism by adding it was “the first major injury that wasn’t my arm.” The veteran relief pitcher will be 36 years old at the start of the 2023 season.
If there was an encouraging sign for Hudson, he threw a bullpen session at Camelback Ranch on Friday.
Dodgers signed Daniel Hudson to extension
The Dodgers and Hudson agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million contract with a team option for 2024 last September, which expressed the organization’s belief the right-hander would return fully healthy this season.
Signing Hudson to a new deal was a similar approach they took with Blake Treinen and Max Muncy by guaranteeing his 2023 season in exchange for team control in 2024.
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