A photo of Orlando Hudson.
Orlando Thill Hudson (born December 12, 1977, in Darlington, South Carolina), nicknamed O-Dog, is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Minnesota Twins.
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.
Hudson was the quarterback of Darlington High School's first-ever football team, and also served as the teams 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.
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.
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.[1]
Hudson was selected to his first All-Star Game in 2007, and won his third Gold Glove that season.
Hudson missed the last month of the 2008 season, with a dislocated left wrist he suffered against the Atlanta Braves[2] 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, reportedly worth $3.4 million (with an additional $4.6 million more in performance bonuses).[3]
On Monday April 13, 2009, Hudson became the 8th Dodger to hit for the cycle, 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.[4] 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.[5]
He won his fourth Gold Glove Award at the conclusion of the season.
Minnesota Twins[]
On February 4, 2010, Hudson signed a 1 year, $5 Million deal with the Minnesota Twins.[6] Hudson began the year by batting .305 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI before hitting the 15-day disabled list with a sprained wrist [7].
Racism in Baseball[]
On April 13, 2010, Hudson hinted that there is racism toward blacks in free agency. He said, "You see guys like Jermaine Dye without a job. Guy with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs and can’t get a job. Pretty much sums it up right there, no? You’ve got some guys who miss a year who can come back and get $5, $6 million, and a guy like Jermaine Dye can’t get a job. A guy like Gary Sheffield , a first-ballot Hall of Famer, can’t get a job.".[8]
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. He has a daughter, Kamari (7), and son, Orlando Jr. (4)[9].
References[]
- ↑ Orlando Hudson earns second career Rawlings Gold Glove Award. MLB.com (November 3, 2006). Retrieved on December 23, 2009.
- ↑ Ritter, Mike (August 10, 2008). Hudson done for season after surgery. MLB.com. Retrieved on December 23, 2009.
- ↑ Gurnick, Ken (February 21, 2009). Hudson passes Dodgers physical. MLB.com. Retrieved on December 23, 2009.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ {{cite web|title=Rockies sign Hudson to one-year deal|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins
- ↑ http://www.mlbdisabledlist.co.nr
- ↑ [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AuyOHZ55mZGJlrhMauXIFOI5nYcB?slug=jp-dyehudson041210
- ↑ Orlando Hudson: Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights
External links[]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube
- Official Site
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