Happy Trails, Daniel Hudson!

If you conjure up in your mind the defining moments of the Nationals’ 2019 run to the World Series, you can’t get very far in the list before arriving at the indelible, unforgettable image of Daniel Hudson chucking his glove to who-knows-where upon striking out Michael Brantley and then somehow jumping into the arms of Yan Gomes while simultaneously catching Gomes in his own arms.  

Though he didn’t finish the 2024 World Series on the mound, he did finish it as a 2-time World Champion and then promptly announced his retirement.  

Hudson was drafted by the White Sox in the 5th round of the 2008 draft, and his major league debut came with them in 2009, totaling 6 appearances.  For the next three years, he was exclusively a starter, getting traded in 2010 to the Diamondbacks (in a deal that involved Nationals old friend Edwin Jackson).  He lost nearly all of 2013 and 2014 to Tommy John surgery and recovery.  When he returned in 2015, and for the rest of his career, he was a bullpen arm.

His pitching journey took him from Arizona to Pittsburgh to the Dodgers and then to the Blue Jays in 2019.  In 45 appearances for the Blue Jays, Hudson had a 3.00 ERA and an admirable 6-3 W-L record.  At the trading deadline, he was dealt to Washington for a Kyle Johnston, a former 6th round pick of the Nats in 2017 who was toiling away with the P-Nats accumulating a 9-9 record.  For closure on that deal, Johnston is still with the Blue Jays (though hasn’t been continuously since the trade), pitching 38 innings this year and ending with the AAA club.  He has never appeared in the majors.  

As good as Huddy was with the Jays in 2019, he was even better for the rest of the season in Washington.  In 24 appearances, he was 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 6 saves, and a glove toss that we’ll never forget.  His 2020 campaign was rather forgettable, though his 2021 was much improved, putting together a 2.20 ERA in 31 games.  Two years after joining the Nats, Hudson was again dealt at the deadline, going to San Diego in exchange for Mason Thompson and Jordy Barley (Barley, for his part is still with the Nats, finishing 2024 as a slick-fielding 2B who struggles mightily with the bat for Harrisburg).

The last three years have been as a Dodger, with his best year being this year; he appeared in 65 games, going 6-3 with 10 saves and an ERA of 3.00 - easily his best season since 2019.  Hudson may have been a relative short-timer with the Nationals, but he delivered the best months of his career for the champs that season, and left us with happy, if not moderately stressful, memories!  After a 16-year major-league career, enjoy your ride into the sunset, Daniel Hudson!