Tim Hudson

Timothy Adam Hudson (born July 14, 1975), nicknamed "Huddy", is an American former professional baseball pitcher of Major League Baseball (MLB). After playing in college for Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Auburn University, Hudson played in the major leagues for the Oakland Athletics (1999–2004), Atlanta Braves (2005–13), and San Francisco Giants (2014–15). With the Giants, he won the 2014 World Series over the Kansas City Royals.

During his 17-season career, Hudson established himself as one of baseball's most consistent pitchers and until 2014 had never had a season where he suffered more losses than wins. Hudson was also named an All-Star four times: twice with Oakland, once with Atlanta, and once with San Francisco.

Before retiring in 2015, Hudson led active major league pitchers in most wins and one of four active pitchers with at least 200 career wins. With a win against the Oakland A's on July 26, 2015, he has won a game against every team in the majors, the 15th pitcher to do so. Hudson is one of 21 pitchers in major league history to win at least 200 games, strike out at least 2,000 batters and have a winning percentage above .600. Of those 21, 14 are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Early life

Timothy Adam Hudson was born on July 14, 1975, in Columbus, Georgia. 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 offered a scholarship to a major college. Hudson decided to attend a local two-year college, Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC).

College career

In , 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 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 five home runs, and 29 RBI. His sophomore season ERA of 1.95 was the team and conference best. batters on April 25 against the Florida Marlins.

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 eight innings, giving up two earned runs against the Philadelphia Phillies. He did not get a decision, but the Braves ultimately won, 5–2.

Hudson is one of only seven ballplayers who pitched in the NL in 2007 who won at least 12 games in each year from 2004 to 2007, 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 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. 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.

200px|thumb|Hudson in 2009

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 shot which accounted for the only scoring in a 2–0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. On the same day, he got his 1,600th 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 seven innings, giving up only three hits and one run while recording six strikeouts and two 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 four-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. His record with the Braves was 113–72 with an ERA of 3.56.

San Francisco Giants (2014–2015)

200px|thumb|Hudson with the 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 innings in the season before issuing a walk. The streak was snapped on April 25 when he walked Carlos Santana. Hudson posted at the time a Major League-best and leading 1.81 ERA in his first 13 starts with the Giants, the lowest in 104 years in the 133-year history of the franchise. In his first year with the Giants, he was selected to participate in the All-Star Game. Accomplishing this feat, he has made the All-Star team at least once with every team he has pitched for. On August 27, in a 4–2 team win over the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park, Hudson recorded his 2,000th career strikeout. He started Game 2 of the NLDS, a game that went 18 innings; Hudson also started the only other postseason game to go longer than 16 innings while on the Braves in 2005. On October 29, Hudson became the oldest pitcher to start Game 7 of the World Series. The Giants went on to win the game, 3–2, and the series, 4–3, over the Kansas City Royals, giving Hudson the first and only World Series ring of his 16-year career.

Prior to the 2015 season, Hudson stated it would likely be his last. Following a 4–3 win against the Oakland Athletics on July 26, 2015, Hudson became the 15th pitcher in MLB history to register at least one win against all 30 current teams.

On October 1 at AT&T Park, Hudson started his final major league game. Giants manager Bruce Bochy made a pitching change, allowing Hudson to receive a standing ovation from his family, friends, and Giants announcers, executives, and fans as he walked off the mound. As he reached the dugout steps, he was greeted and embraced by all of his teammates and coaches outside and inside of it. On October 3 at AT&T Park, during Fan Appreciation Weekend, the Giants honored Hudson with a pregame ceremony surrounded by his family, friends, Giants teammates, coaches, and executives. The event was broadcast live on local television on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, where Giants sportscaster Jon Miller served as MC. The ceremony included a taped video message from his Hall of Fame Braves manager Bobby Cox, speeches from president and chief executive officer Larry Baer, Bochy, and starting rotation mates Jake Peavy and Madison Bumgarner, before Hudson emotionally addressed the crowd.

Scouting report

Hudson was a sinkerballer, using that pitch about half the time and at a speed of 87–91 mph. His next-most used pitch was a cutter at 84–87. He expanded his repertoire to left-handers with a curveball (75–77) and splitter (78–81). He also had a four-seam fastball (88–91 mph). His favored pitch with two strikes to right-handed hitters was his cutter, while he stayed with the sinker to lefties.

Achievements

Professional
2010 Hutch Award winner
Nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award by his team in 2006 and 2007
Major League record for the longest streak of 10 or more wins and nine or fewer losses in a season (seven straight from 1999 to 2005)
2010 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
Four-time All-Star (2000, 2004, 2010, 2014)
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 to 2004)
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.
2014 World Series Champion
On July 26, 2015, became 15th pitcher to record a win against all 30 major league clubs.
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)
Led NCAA in winning games (15, 1997)

Coaching career

In 2016, Hudson served as a guest instructor in spring training for both the Braves and Giants. In 2017, Hudson returned as a spring training instructor for the Giants. He served in the same role for the Braves in 2018. In January 2020, Hudson was named the pitching coach for the Auburn Tigers.

On July 27, 2022, it was announced Hudson would be stepping away from Auburn. Shortly thereafter, Hudson accepted the position as head coach of the Lee-Scott Academy baseball team. He stepped down from that position after one season, still coaching as a volunteer.

Broadcasting career

In 2016, Hudson joined Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast as a part-time broadcaster for select Braves games.

Personal life

Hudson and his wife he met while he was a student at Auburn. They currently live in Auburn, Alabama. Hudson and his wife are active with their philanthropy for children, the Hudson Family Foundation.

Hudson is a Christian.