Background: Hudson attended Auburn and was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the sixth round. An outfielder and pitcher, he hit .396 with 18 home runs and posted a 15-2 record his senior season. He was traded to the Braves this past winter for pitchers Juan Cruz and Dan Meyer and outfielder Charles Thomas. The Braves then signed Hudson to a four-year, $47 million contract extension that doesn’t include the $6.5 million he’s drawing this year.
What’s up: Hudson will make his career debut against the Rockies on Monday when he starts the opener of a three-game series at Coors Field. He will be followed in the Braves’ rotation by John Thomson and John Smoltz (questionable with a sore back).
Stat line: With a career 95-40 (.704) record, Hudson is the third-winningest pitcher of all time (minimum 100 decisions). And if Pedro Martinez (185-77, .706) slips, Hudson could move into second behind Spud Chandler (109-43, .717). Even in the minors, Hudson won 24-of-34 decisions (.706).
What’s next: Staying strong. Hudson’s health slipped for the first time in 2004 when he missed six weeks at midseason with a strained oblique muscle. Last year, he went 7-0 and had a 1.99 ERA in 10 starts on five days’ rest; 5-5, 4.54 ERA in 15 starts on four days’ rest.
Klis’ take: A huge Braves fan growing up in Phenix City, Ala., Hudson was a high school sophomore when Atlanta started its run of 13 consecutive division titles in 1991. “The streak is crazy,” he said. “It’s ridiculous. That just doesn’t happen in this day and age. There is an honor to being part of this team, especially since I was a big fan of all the pitching staffs they had growing up.” The rebounds of former Rockies Mike Hampton and Thomson, transferring Smoltz back to the rotation and the stunning acquisition of Hudson give the Braves a great chance at making it 14 in a row.
