Daniel Hudson returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers this past June after being sidelined for more than a year while rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.
Hudson’s recovery was a longer process than expected and included multiple setbacks. Hudson dealt with right ankle tendinitis that he ultimately overcame but still had lingering discomfort in his left knee until receiving a cortisone injection that helped alleviate some of that.
Hudson wound up appearing in three games this season before being placed on the 15-day injured list on July 6 due to a sprained MCL in his right knee. He has since been transferred to the 60-day IL and isn’t eligible to be activated until September.
Hudson acknowledged the chances of him pitching again this season are low, via Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:
Hudson began physical therapy last week but admits there is only an “outside chance” he will be able to return in September, or maybe during the playoffs if the Dodgers can make a deep October run.
Hudson sustained his latest knee injury while converting a save against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The veteran reliever loaded the bases with nobody out before escaping the jam without allowing a run.
“I just can’t put into words how frustrating and disappointing this is for him. So it’s an IL and it’s going to be quite some time,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said at the time.
“He gutted it out. I don’t know how he made those last two pitches, but that’s kind of where we’re at.
Dave Roberts heartbroken for Daniel Hudson
Considering the long road Hudson had in returning from ACL surgery, Roberts was disappointed for the 36-year-old after suffering another knee injury. “It’s difficult. Because I know the grind and what he’s gone through. You feel like an outcast when you’re not around,” Roberts said.
“You feel, ‘Why am I doing this? Is it worth it?’ And you finally get to a point where you’ve gotten back, and the highest of highs of getting a save, but then to kind of fall back once the adrenaline settles in and you realize that you’re back on the IL and you’re going to be missing a significant amount of time.
“My heart breaks for him. He was committed to coming back this year. Could’ve walked away last year, but committed to coming back. So for it to end right now the way it did, it hurts.”
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