| Tim Hudson | |
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Hudson warming up for the Braves in 2008. |
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| Atlanta Braves – No. 15 | |
| Starting pitcher | |
| Born: July 14, 1975 Columbus, Georgia |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| June 8, 1999 for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Career statistics (through 2011 season) |
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| Win–loss record | 181–97 |
| Earned run average | 3.40 |
| Strikeouts | 1,699 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
Timothy Adam Hudson (born July 14, 1975) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Atlanta Braves. Hudson began his major league career with the Oakland Athletics (1999–2004) and played his last two years of college eligibility at Auburn University. In a 13-season career, Hudson has compiled a 181–97 win-loss record with 1,699 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA in 2,503.1 innings with the Oakland Athletics and the Atlanta Braves. Also, he has never had a season where he has suffered more losses than wins.
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Hudson attended Glenwood School in Phenix City, Alabama where in his senior season, he led the team to the 1993 AISA state championship.[1] He finished his high school career with a 12–1 record and a 1.78 ERA. Despite his record, Hudson was considered undersized by scouts at 6'0 tall and 160 pounds and was not drafted nor was he offered a scholarship to a major college.[2] Hudson decided to attend a local two year college, Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC).
In 1994, his freshman year at CVCC, he earned First-team All American honors while leading his team to the AJCCC Division II championship. He also led the CVCC team in batting average (.385), home runs (9), RBI (42), wins (10–2), strikeouts (76), and was second on the team with a 2.76 ERA. As a sophomore, he was named Second-team All American and set a school and conference record with 117 strikeouts which also led the nation. As a hitter, Hudson batted .345 with 5 home runs, and 29 RBI. His sophomore season ERA of 1.95 was the team and conference best.[1]
Hudson played two seasons as a collegiate player at Auburn University where he is still at or near the top of many school records. In 1997, he played all 65 games for the Tigers while both pitching and playing outfield. That season, he hit .396 with 18 home runs and 95 RBI. As a pitcher, he finished 15–2 with a 2.97 ERA to earn SEC Player of the Year and consensus All-American honors. He was drafted by Oakland in the 6th round of the 1997 amateur draft.
In his rookie season, Hudson had an 11–2 mark and finished 5th in the AL Rookie of the Year vote. He became a member of Oakland's so-called "Big Three", along with left-handed pitchers Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. In 2000, he posted a career-high 20 victories. The next four years he won 18, 15, 16 and 12, and was an All-Star in 2000 and 2004.
Before the 2005 season, Hudson was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Charles Thomas, Dan Meyer and Juan Cruz. On August 6, 2005, Hudson won his 100th career game, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8–1.
In January 2006, Hudson was named to the Team USA roster for the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
His second season with the Braves was disappointing. He posted career-highs in losses (12) and ERA (4.86) in 2006. He returned to his earlier form in 2007 however, finishing with a 16–10 record and a 3.33 ERA. He was in the midst of a 9-game winning streak, the second of his career, at one point in the season. Hudson struck out a career-high 12 batters on April 25 against the Florida Marlins.
Hudson is one of only 7 ballplayers who pitched in the NL in 2007 who won at least 12 games in each year from 2004–07, the others being Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux, Roy Oswalt, Jason Marquis, Derek Lowe, and Jeff Suppan.
On August 2, 2008, Hudson revealed that he would undergo Tommy John ligament transplant surgery on his pitching elbow, and missed the remainder of the 2008 season. He started the 2009 season on the 60-day DL, and did not play prior to the All Star break.[3] On July 2, 2009, he threw a 90-pitch bullpen session and Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox said: 'He’s ready to go. ... He’s really come along. He’s got major-league stuff right now, his normal stuff." But Cox added that the Braves would not rush the timetable on Hudson’s return, which was scheduled for mid- to late-August. Hudson’s first minor-league rehab start was tentatively scheduled for July 19 at Class A Myrtle Beach.[2] After completing several minor league rehab sessions, Hudson returned to the Atlanta Braves starting pitching rotation on September 1, 2009. He gave up only two runs and earned his first win of the 2009 season.
On November 12, 2009, Hudson signed a $28 million, three-year extension with the Braves with a 9 million option for a fourth year.[4] On August 28, 2010 against the Florida Marlins, Hudson set a career high in strikeouts with 13.
On October 5, 2010, Hudson was awarded the 2010 NL Comeback Player of the Year award.[5]
On June 20, 2011, in Atlanta, Hudson hit his second career home run, a two-run home run which provided the only scoring of the game in a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. On the same day he got his 1,600 strikeout in the top of the fifth inning against J.P. Arencibia.[6] On July 15, 2011, Hudson was the winning pitcher in the Braves' 10,000th win in franchise history.[7]
Hudson can still throw his four seam fastball at 93 mph, but relies mostly on his 88–92 mph two-seamer which has excellent sinking action and gets him a lot of ground ball outs. While Hudson does not have a dominating out pitch, he is effective because he has a variety of above average off speed pitches that he mixes and can throw at any time. Hudson has a sharp 85–88 mph cutter that he can throw away to righties or into lefties for a swinging strike, and also has a sinker.
Hudson is married to the former Kim Bruner, whom he met while a student at Auburn.[1] The couple has two daughters, Kennedie and Tess, and one son, Kade, and currently live just south of Atlanta in Peachtree City, Georgia.
On April 29, 2007, both Hudson's grandmother and St.Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Josh Hancock, his college teammate at Auburn, died. He drew his grandmother's initials on the pitcher's mound before his next start, and wore them on his spikes. He also sewed Hancock's initials (JH) on his jersey. He pitched 8 innings, giving up 2 earned runs against the Philadelphia Phillies. He did not get a decision, but the Braves ultimately won, 5–2.
Hudson is called 'Huddy' by his fellow Atlanta Braves teammates. He is considered to be one of the funnier guys on the team, alongside former Auburn teammate and current Braves back-up catcher, David Ross.
| Preceded by Pedro Martínez |
American League Wins Champion 2000 (with David Wells) |
Succeeded by Mark Mulder |
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