A few weeks ago, it was unclear whether Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson would even participate in this trip.
Two years after suffering a left anterior cruciate ligament tear that ended his 2022 season, and eight months after his 2023 return was cut painfully short with a right knee ligament sprain, the 37-year-old right-hander has lost a series of underwhelming performances. As a result, spring camp has started. inconsistent performance.
That wasn't unexpected for the 14-year veteran, who played in just 28 games total over the past two seasons. The Dodgers never doubted that Hudson would eventually play a key role in the bullpen this season.
But as recently as two weeks ago, manager Dave Roberts was careful not to guarantee Hudson a spot in Opening Day. After two years spent primarily rehabbing a knee injury, it seemed a bit unlikely that Hudson would take part in the club's season-opening trip to South Korea.
“It was kind of a question of whether I would be ready for these two games,” Hudson admitted.
But in the final two weeks of spring training in Arizona, Hudson put all doubts to rest.
The relief pitcher pitched well one after another, culminating in two scoreless games in which he struck out a total of four batters in the Cactus League.
In bullpen sessions and live batting practice, his command was sharper, his fastball velocity remained in the mid-90s, and best of all, his confidence was steadily increasing.
“For me, it was classic veteran reinforcement,” Roberts said. And the last few games have been really good. ”
So when the club arrived in Seoul this week to open the season with two games against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday and Thursday, Hudson was not only on the plane, but also on the roster. The goal was to complete “unfinished business.” After two injury-plagued seasons, he signed a contract with the club.
“It means a lot,” Hudson said of being on the opening day roster. The move was made official Sunday when he was added to the 40-man roster (Hudson, who was a free agent this winter, was signed to return to the minor leagues by the Dodgers in the offseason).
“They have shown a lot of confidence in me over the last few years,” Hudson added. “I'm really thankful that they took care of me the last few years when I got hurt. We didn't really have to do that. So just being back here means a lot. There is.”
The Dodgers and Hudson were wary of rushing to build up this season, especially in a shortened spring training session leading up to the team's international opener, but Hudson aimed to get back in shape as quickly as possible.
He has already missed one overseas opener as a major leaguer, and in 2014 he stayed from the Arizona Diamondbacks' tour of Australia (against the Dodgers) while recovering from back-to-back Tommy John surgeries.
“You see teams going to London and all these other places and you think, 'That would be really cool to do that someday,'” said Hudson, whose only previous international series experience was a trip to Mexico in 2018. Told. First stint with the Dodgers. “This is a completely different animal that came to this side of the world. It's really amazing to come here and see this culture.”
Hudson is also clearly tired of watching Dodgers games from the dugout, and has moved back to the bullpen he anchored for the first half of the 2022 season, where he played in 25 games and had a 2.22 ERA before fracturing his knee. I decided to go back.
“There will certainly be a little bit of appreciation towards the end.” [of your career]I didn't get the opportunity to potentially retire of my own free will.'' Hudson said he considered retiring this offseason, but ultimately didn't make the decision.
“I never take it for granted. Certainly, I'm really grateful to have had that opportunity.”
Hudson capped off a strong preseason on Sunday with one scoreless inning in the Dodgers' 14-3 exhibition victory over the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean KBO League.
And on Wednesday and Thursday, he will be eager to make a long-awaited return to a tortuous but fruitful big league career.
“There are still some things I want to clear up,” Hudson said. “But at the same time, we feel like we're pretty close. I think we've performed well enough in the last few games that we've given them confidence that we're ready.”
Otani stopper
Shohei Ohtani responded in his second at-bat on Sunday.
(Lee Jin-man/AP)
There are very few pitchers in the world who can have consistent success against Shohei Ohtani.
But former MLB right-hander and Sunday Kium Heroes starter Ariel Jurado is one of them.
In Ohtani's only two at-bats in Sunday's exhibition at Kocheok Sky Dome, Jurado punched him out twice while fanning him with a high heater in the first and second innings.
This may not be surprising considering the history of both players competing in MLB.
During Jurado's two seasons with the Texas Rangers in 2018 and 2019, Ohtani was only 2-for-11 against the Panamanian. Ohtani has faced at least 10 at-bats in his career, but in only 13 of those at-bats has he been below the .182 batting average he posted against Jurado.
After Sunday's game, Jurado (who gave up four runs in four innings) called Ohtani the best player in the majors right now and said he was just grateful to be able to play against the Dodgers' star-studded lineup, including the two-time MVP. Told.
He also mentioned that some scouts probably paid attention to his at-bats with Ohtani. It's been four years since the 28-year-old last appeared in the majors, but he can claim at least one trait – a clear Ohtani stopper – and few can.
Heroes players value Dodgers games
Jurado wasn't the only Heroes player to welcome Sunday's matchup against the Dodgers.
In the seventh inning, third baseman Sung-Moon Son ended a long 11-pitch at-bat with Dodgers closer Evan Phillips with a two-run double against the wall, highlighting his 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Song later called the experience a “once in a lifetime” moment and said it was “the best day of my life,” according to an interpreter.
Although the afternoon was less emotional for the Dodgers, Roberts said the club enjoyed the lively atmosphere inside the 16,000-seat Skydome (there was also drumming and cheerleader dancing during the game), and Roberts said the club enjoyed the lively atmosphere inside the 16,000-seat SkyDome (there was also drumming and cheerleader dancing during the game) and praised the conditions for all matches. The turf field where the Dodgers and Padres will play against each other later this week.
“I thought the stadium itself was in great condition and very much up to our previous standards,” the manager said. “The atmosphere of the environment was great. There's a lot of energy tonight, definitely on their side. We're not used to having cheerleaders during games. So it's exciting for everyone. And it seemed like everyone kept their energy up all night.”
