Luke Hudson
Encyclopedia
Luke Stephen Hudson is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee
.
Drafted by the Colorado Rockies
in the 4th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
, Hudson would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Cincinnati Reds
on July 1, 2002. He did not pitch in the majors in 2003, but he made it back with the Reds in 2004, when he had a brief but successful stint in which he had a 4-2 record and a 2.42 ERA in nine starts. In 2005 he struggled, going 6-9 with a 6.38 ERA. He was released by the Reds on March 9, 2006 before being acquired by the Kansas City Royals on March 13.
Hudson began the 2006 season pitching for the Royals as a reliever. However, he struggled, going 1-3 with a 7.24 ERA while allowing 11 ER over 13 2/3 IP. He was converted to a starter, and he did well initially, going 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA in his first six starts. However, on August 13, in his seventh start with the team, Hudson had easily the worst start of his career, surrendering 11 runs, 10 of them earned, over just 1/3 of an inning against the Cleveland Indians
. The Indians scored seven runs before making an out, one shy of the major league record of eight, and they scored the eighth through eleventh runs when Hudson gave up a grand slam
to Travis Hafner
, Hafner's Major League record-tying sixth grand slam of the season.
After the rough outing against Cleveland, Hudson finished the 2006 season by going 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA over his last eight starts.
In 2007, Hudson remained with the Royals, but was hampered by injuries, including two separate trips to the 15-day disabled list. He had only one appearance, giving up five runs in two innings on May 10 in a 17-3 loss to the Oakland A's. He underwent right shoulder surgery in June, ending his season.
Due to a slow recovery from the surgery, Hudson again began the 2008 season on the disabled list.
Hudson's father, Bill, a very talented water-colorist, owns an art materials company in California
; Luke works as director of marketing in the offseason. Luke's brother Will operates the business and can be seen playing softball with brother, Brian, and sisters Kim, Liz, and Sara on the team "Forfeit Please" in Fountain Valley.
On April 1, , Hudson announced his retirement.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
.
Drafted by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in the 4th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
, Hudson would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on July 1, 2002. He did not pitch in the majors in 2003, but he made it back with the Reds in 2004, when he had a brief but successful stint in which he had a 4-2 record and a 2.42 ERA in nine starts. In 2005 he struggled, going 6-9 with a 6.38 ERA. He was released by the Reds on March 9, 2006 before being acquired by the Kansas City Royals on March 13.
Hudson began the 2006 season pitching for the Royals as a reliever. However, he struggled, going 1-3 with a 7.24 ERA while allowing 11 ER over 13 2/3 IP. He was converted to a starter, and he did well initially, going 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA in his first six starts. However, on August 13, in his seventh start with the team, Hudson had easily the worst start of his career, surrendering 11 runs, 10 of them earned, over just 1/3 of an inning against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. The Indians scored seven runs before making an out, one shy of the major league record of eight, and they scored the eighth through eleventh runs when Hudson gave up a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
to Travis Hafner
Travis Hafner
Travis Lee Hafner is a left-handed hitting designated hitter for the Cleveland Indians of the American League Central Division. His nickname, "Pronk", was given to him by former teammate Bill Selby during spring training of when people sometimes referred to him as "The Project" and other times...
, Hafner's Major League record-tying sixth grand slam of the season.
After the rough outing against Cleveland, Hudson finished the 2006 season by going 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA over his last eight starts.
In 2007, Hudson remained with the Royals, but was hampered by injuries, including two separate trips to the 15-day disabled list. He had only one appearance, giving up five runs in two innings on May 10 in a 17-3 loss to the Oakland A's. He underwent right shoulder surgery in June, ending his season.
Due to a slow recovery from the surgery, Hudson again began the 2008 season on the disabled list.
Hudson's father, Bill, a very talented water-colorist, owns an art materials company in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; Luke works as director of marketing in the offseason. Luke's brother Will operates the business and can be seen playing softball with brother, Brian, and sisters Kim, Liz, and Sara on the team "Forfeit Please" in Fountain Valley.
On April 1, , Hudson announced his retirement.