Tim Hudson

Tim Hudson
Hudson warming up for the Braves in 2008.
San Francisco Giants – No. 17
Starting Pitcher
Born: (1975-07-14) July 14, 1975 Columbus, Georgia
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
June 8, 1999, for the Oakland Athletics
Career statistics (through April 8, 2014)
Win–loss record	207–111
Earned run average	3.43
Strikeouts	1,907
Shutouts	13
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Oakland Athletics (1999–2004) Atlanta Braves (2005–2013) San Francisco Giants (2014–present)
Career highlights and awards
3× All-Star selection (2000, 2004, 2010) Led AL in wins in 2000 2010 NL Comeback Player of the Year Hutch Award (2010)

Timothy Adam Hudson (born July 14, 1975) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). After spending his college years at Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Auburn University, Hudson began his major league career with the Oakland Athletics (1999–2004) before joining the Atlanta Braves (2005–2013). During his 13-season career, Hudson has established himself as one of baseball's most consistent pitchers and has never had a season where he has suffered more losses than wins. Hudson has also been named an All-Star three times, twice with Oakland and once with Atlanta. He is currently one of two active pitchers with at least 200 career wins.

High school

Hudson attended Glenwood School in Phenix City, Alabama where in his senior season, he led the team to the 1993 AISA state championship. 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. Hudson decided to attend a local two-year college, Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC).

College

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.

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. Tim was the first player to be named First Team All-SEC at two positions (P,OF) in the same year. He was drafted by Oakland in the 6th round of the 1997 amateur draft.

Professional career

Oakland Athletics

Hudson was drafted by the Oakland Athletics twice, in the 35th round of the 1994 MLB Draft and again in the 6th round of the 1997 MLB Draft, signing in 1997. He made his Major League debut with a five inning start on June 8, 1999 against the San Diego Padres, where he allowed three earned runs in a game the Athletics eventually lost 5–3. He recorded his first career win in his next start, on June 13 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed only one run in seven innings of the 9–3 victory.

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.

Atlanta Braves

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.

Hudson (right) with catcher Brian McCann in 2008.

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, teammate 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. 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.[1] 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. 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.

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. On July 15, 2011, Hudson was the winning pitcher in the Braves' 10,000th win in franchise history.

Hudson went 16-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 2012. On October 30, 2012, Hudson had his $9 million option exercised by the Braves.

On April 30, 2013 Hudson became the 113th major league pitcher to reach 200 wins, with an 8-1 victory over the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Hudson went 7 innings, giving up only 3 hits and 1 run while recording 6 strikeouts and 2 walks. Hudson also went 2 for 3 at the plate with a double and a home run. On July 24, 2013, Hudson was pitching a 4-hit shutout against the New York Mets when Eric Young, Jr., who was trying to beat a throw to first base, accidentally stepped on Hudson's leg above the ankle. This resulted in an ankle fracture that ended Hudson's 2013 season. After the season, Hudson became a free agent.

San Francisco Giants

On November 18, 2013, Hudson agreed to a two-year, $23 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Hudson set a franchise record by pitching 30 2/3 innings in the season before issuing a walk. The record was snapped on April 25th when he walked Carlos Santana.

Scouting report

Hudson is a sinkerballer, using that pitch about half the time and at a speed of 89–91 mph. His next-most used pitch is a cutter at 85–88. He expands his repertoire to left-handers with a curveball (76–78) and splitter (79–82). He also has a four-seam fastball. His favored pitch with 2 strikes to right-handed hitters is his cutter, while he stays with the sinker to lefties.

Achievements

• Professional
  • 2010 Hutch Award winner
  • Received the Roberto Clemente Award nomination for the second year in a row on September 7, 2007. The award is given every year to a Major League Baseball player who gives outstanding performances both on the field and in the community.
  • Major League record for the longest streak of 10 or more wins and 9 or fewer losses in a season (7 straight from 1999–2005)
  • 2010 Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award
  • Three-time All-Star (2000, 2004, 2010)
  • 3-time Top 10 in American League Cy Young Award voting (2000–01, 2003)
  • Led MLB in winning percentage (2000)
  • Led AL in wins (20, 2000)
  • Led AL in games started (35, 2001)
  • Twice led AL in shutouts (2003–04)
  • Twice second in AL in shutouts (2000, 2002)
  • 5-time 15-game winner (2000–03, 2007)
  • 3-time Athletics' Opening-Day starter (from 2001–04)
  • Has had a winning record in each season he's been in the majors (1999–current)
  • Pitched three complete-game one-hitters: August 28, 2000, against the Chicago White Sox; May 1, 2006, against the Colorado Rockies; and May 4, 2011 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
  • On April 30, 2013, Hudson won his 200th career game, pitching 7 innings of 1 run ball against the Washington Nationals.
• College
  • Won Rotary Smith Award (1997)
  • Consensus All-American (1997)
  • NCAA East Regional Tournament MVP (1997)
  • SEC Player of the Year (1997)
  • All-SEC, both pitcher and outfielder (1997)
  • ABCA All-South Region, both pitcher and outfielder (1997)
  • Letterman (1996–97)
  • Led NCAA in winning games (15, 1997)

Personal

Hudson is married to the former Kim Bruner, whom he met while a student at Auburn. The couple has two daughters, Kennedie and Tess, and one son, Kade, and currently live just south of Atlanta in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Hudson is a Christian. Hudson has spoken about his faith saying, "It’s been one of those things, where anybody that’s played a sport at the professional level there’s always a lot of challenges. And the one thing that’s always been a constant for me is Jesus Christ and my faith ... And not only that, but just being an example for other players, my teammates, my friends from home. You know I think it’s one of those things where you need to be a beacon of light and just shine on people."

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.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball wins champions

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)