Daniel Hudson was proving to be an effective late-inning option out of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen in his second stint with the organization before it came to a grinding halt because of injury.
Hudson’s 2022 season was cut short due to suffering a torn ACL in his left knee while attempting to make a play off the mound against the Atlanta Braves on June 24. Hudson underwent surgery and began to make steady progress in his rehab process.
In September, the Dodgers signed Hudson to a contract option that includes a team option for 2024.
The veteran right-hander made good on his prediction of being able to participate in the start of Spring Training, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Hudson is not at the same stage as other pitchers in camp, per Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Roberts also updated Daniel Hudson’s status Monday, saying the reliever is a little behind the rest of the pitching staff because of ankle tendinitis but isn’t “too big of a concern.”
Hudson recently began dealing with right ankle tendinitis that stemmed from the rehab process for the torn ACL in his left knee. The 35-year-old nevertheless managed to throw a bullpen session at Camelback Ranch, and conceivably could make a full recovery by Opening Day of the 2023 season.
Prior to the torn ACL last year, Hudson went 2-3 with a 2.22 ERA, 2.05 FIP and 0.90 WHIP in 25 games. Hudson boasted a 30.9% strikeout rate that was on pace to be the second-highest average of his career.
Dodgers bullpen without Daniel Hudson
If Hudson is not healthy enough to be included on the Opening Day roster, the Dodgers bullpen nonetheless should be plenty deep.
The group projects to include Yency Almonte, Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol, Shelby Miller, Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia. The two reaming spots could go to some combination of Phil Bickford, Justin Bruihl, Victor González, Hudson and Jimmy Nelson.
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