Orlando Hudson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orlando Hudson |
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Hudson in 2017
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| Second baseman | ||||||||||||||
| Born: December 12, 1977 Darlington, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| July 24, 2002, for the Toronto Blue Jays | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||
| October 3, 2012, for the Chicago White Sox | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .273 | |||||||||||||
| Home runs | 93 | |||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 542 | |||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Orlando Thill Hudson (born December 12, 1977) is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2002 to 2012. He played for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Hudson was famous for his amazing fielding skills. He often made incredible catches and dives to stop ground balls. In 2005, he won his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense. This award showed how talented he was on the field.
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Early Life and Sports
Orlando Hudson was born on December 12, 1977, in Darlington, South Carolina. He was a talented athlete in high school. He played three different sports very well. These sports were baseball, football, and basketball.
In baseball, he was named Player of the Year. He was also chosen for the All-State team. For football, he was the first quarterback for Darlington High School's team. He also helped the team as a punter. After high school, Hudson continued to play baseball at Spartanburg Methodist College.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays picked Orlando Hudson in the 33rd round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his professional baseball journey in 1998. He played for the Medicine Hat Blue Jays in the rookie leagues. He hit very well, with a .298 average.
He then moved up through different minor league teams. These included the Hagerstown Suns (1999) and the Dunedin Blue Jays (2000). He also played for the Tennessee Smokies (2000–01) and Syracuse Sky Chiefs (2001–02). In 2001, he was recognized as an All-Star in the Southern League. He was also named a top minor league second baseman by Baseball America.
Hudson made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on July 24, 2002. This was with the Blue Jays against the Baltimore Orioles. His first MLB hit came on July 26 against the Minnesota Twins. It was an RBI single that helped score a run. On August 5, he hit his first career home run against the Orioles. He played for the Blue Jays until 2005.
Playing for the Diamondbacks
In 2005, Hudson was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He moved with pitcher Miguel Batista. In return, the Blue Jays received third baseman Troy Glaus and shortstop prospect Sergio Santos.
The 2006 season was his first full year with Arizona. Hudson had a great year, setting new personal bests. He hit for a .287 average, hit 15 home runs, and had 67 RBI. He also scored 87 runs.
After the 2006 season, Hudson won his second career Gold Glove Award. This award is given to the best defensive players. He became one of only six infielders in MLB history to win a Gold Glove in both the American and National Leagues. He also received a Fielding Bible Award for being the best defensive second baseman.
In 2007, Hudson was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He also won his third Gold Glove Award that season. His average improved again to .294. In 2008, he had his best hitting year, with a .305 average. However, he missed the end of the 2008 season. He suffered a dislocated left wrist during a game.
Time with the Dodgers
On February 21, 2009, Hudson signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This deal was reportedly worth $3.4 million.
On April 13, 2009, Hudson achieved a rare feat. He became the eighth Dodger player to hit for the cycle. This means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. He was the only Dodger to do this at Dodger Stadium. He got his hits off pitcher Randy Johnson and reliever Merkin Valdez.
That same year, he was selected for his second All-Star Game. He also won his fourth Gold Glove Award at the end of the season.
Moving to the Twins and Padres
On February 4, 2010, Hudson signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins. He became the team's starting second baseman. He played 126 games for the Twins. In 2010, he hit .268, which was a career low for his OPS.
On December 20, 2010, Hudson signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Padres. This contract was worth $11.5 million. On July 21, 2011, Hudson had a scary moment. He hit his head against a wall while catching a ball in foul territory. He briefly lost consciousness but did not need to go on the disabled list. He was released by the Padres on May 17, 2012.
Final Season with the White Sox
On May 19, 2012, the Chicago White Sox signed Hudson. He finished the 2012 season with a .204 average. This was the lowest of his career.
Retirement from Baseball
Orlando Hudson retired after the 2012 season. He did not receive any offers from MLB teams for the 2013 season. He had said he was "not ready to retire." He mentioned that he had talked with several teams, but no offers came through.
Community Work
Hudson started the C.A.T.C.H. Foundation. This organization helps young people who are dealing with autism. It provides resources and support for them.
Family Life
Orlando Hudson married Keisa Carr in 2008. He has two daughters and one son. After retiring from playing, Hudson began working for the Diamondbacks. He works as a player development assistant, helping younger players grow.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
Images for kids
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Hudson playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 28, 2007.
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Hudson with the White Sox in 2012
