| Orlando Hudson | |
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| Free Agent | |
| Second baseman | |
| Born: December 12, 1977 Darlington, South Carolina |
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| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| July 24, 2002 for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Career statistics (through 2009 season) |
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| Batting average | .282 |
| Home runs | 77 |
| Runs batted in | 434 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Orlando Thill Hudson (born December 12, 1977, in Darlington, South Carolina) is a Major League Baseball second baseman, who is currently a free agent.
Hudson is renowned for his fielding prowess, known for making spectacular lunging catches and diving stabs at grounders. His defensive talents were recognized in 2005, when he won his first American League Gold Glove Award while with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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High school career
At Darlington High School in Darlington, South Carolina, Hudson was a three-sport standout in baseball, football, and basketball. In baseball, he was the Player of the Year and an All-State selection.
In football, Hudson was a quarterback (of Darlington High School's first-ever football team) and a punter.
After high school, Hudson went on to play baseball at Spartanburg Methodist College.
Professional career
Toronto Blue Jays
Hudson was drafted in the 43rd round by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his professional career with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays in the rookie leagues in 1998, hitting .298. He continued through the minors with the Hagerstown Suns (1999), Dunedin Blue Jays (2000), Tennessee Smokies (2000-01) and Syracuse Sky Chiefs (2001-02). In 2001 he was a Southern League All-Star and a Baseball America 1st team Minor League All-Star at second base.
He made his major league debut on July 24, 2002 for the Blue Jays against the Baltimore Orioles. He was hitless in four at-bats in that game. Hudson recorded his first Major League hit in the second inning on July 26 against the Minnesota Twins when he slapped an RBI single to center field off pitcher Joe Mays. His first home run was hit on August 5 against Baltimore's Rodrigo López. He played for the Blue Jays from 2002 to 2005 and won his first Gold Glove Award in 2005.
Arizona Diamondbacks
In 2005, Hudson was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks along with pitcher Miguel Batista for third baseman Troy Glaus and shortstop prospect Sergio Santos.
In the 2006 season, his first full season with Arizona, Hudson set career-highs in batting average with a .287, in home runs with 15, in RBI with 67, and runs scored with 87.
After the 2006 season, Hudson became the recipient of his second career Gold Glove Award, as announced on November 3. Hudson became only the sixth infielder in major league history to win a Gold Glove award in both the American and National Leagues.
Hudson was selected to his first All-Star Game in 2007, as well as winning his third Gold Glove.
Hudson missed the last month of the 2008 season, with a dislocated left wrist he suffered against the Atlanta Braves and became a free agent at the end of the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On February 21, 2009, Hudson signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers,[1] reportedly worth $3.4 million (with an additional $4.6 million more in performance bonuses).[2]
On Monday April 13, 2009, Hudson became the 8th Dodger to hit for the cycle, and he did it in the 2009 home opener against the San Francisco Giants before a record crowd of 57,099. Hudson was the second Los Angeles Dodger to accomplish this, since Wes Parker in 1970, and the only Los Angeles Dodger to do it at Dodger Stadium.[3] The only other man to hit for the cycle at Dodger Stadium, Jim Fregosi was in attendance. Hudson singled in the first inning, hit a home run in the third inning, doubled in the fourth inning and tripled in the sixth inning. All of Hudson's hits came off of Randy Johnson except for his triple, which was off middle reliever Merkin Valdez.[4]
Hudson played well the first half of the season for the Dodgers and was selected to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game but he faded down the stretch and was benched for Ronnie Belliard for the post-season. He won his fourth Gold Glove Award at the conclusion of the season.
Community involvement
Hudson founded the C.A.T.C.H. Foundation, a 501c3 organization that seeks to provide resources and a support system for youth coping with autism.
Family
Hudson married Keisa Carr in the 2008 offseason and visited South Africa on his honeymoon...has a daughter, Kamari (7), and son, Orlando Jr. (4)[5].
References
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube
- Official Site
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