John Hudgins
| IP | 443 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.327 |
| WHIP | 1.372 |
| BB/9 | 3.352 |
| SO/9 | 7.964 |
- Full name John Michael Hudgins
- Born 08/31/1981 in Oklahoma City, OK
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Stanford
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Drafted in the 3rd round (76th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2003 (signed for $490,000).
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As Stanford's No. 1 starter, Hudgins has put up numbers comparable to those of Cardinal aces of recent vintage. Hudgins led the Pac-10 in innings and strikeouts. His success comes from his ability to compete, work hitters and throw strikes, however, not his raw stuff. His fastball touches 90 mph but works at 88. He has no plus pitch and throws on a flat plane because of a low arm slot. "He's Guthrie without the fastball," Marquess says, comparing Hudgins to Cleveland's first-round pick in 2002. Hudgins has a similar style and four-pitch repertoire but lacks the same life and velocity. He'll appeal to teams that emphasize college players with a track record of success, and may well be an overdraft in the second or third rounds.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Most Outstanding Player at the 2003 College World Series in a losing effort for Stanford, Hudgins is known for his cerebral approach. But he may have out-thought himself in 2005. He got off to a strong start following a quick promotion to Triple-A, but then he tried to pitch to the radar guns too often instead of being his usual efficient, strike-throwing self. He labored and was shut down at the end of July with bone chips in his elbow. There was no structural damage, however, and he should return healthy in spring training. Hudgins had moved quickly thanks to his ability to throw three pitches for strikes. His best offering is a sinking changeup that he sells with grunts and late violence in his delivery. When he gets in a jam, he can crank his 87-91 mph fastball up to 93. He also has an average curveball that could become a plus pitch. Hudgins is a smart control pitcher with a deceptive delivery that he repeats despite a short, chicken-wing arm action. If he can be more consistent, he can be a No. 5 starter, perhaps as soon as the second half of 2006. -
Hudgins earned Most Outstanding Player honors in the 2003 College World Series with three victories in 10 days. He pitched just two innings in his first pro summer because of thoracic outlet syndrome, a circulatory condition he overcame without surgery. Cerebral and competitive, Hudgins knows how to use and command his average stuff. His best pitch is his changeup, which should develop into an above-average pitch due to its movement and deception. He has the confidence to throw it in any count. His solid-average curve also could become a plus pitch. He pounds the strike zone with an 87- 91 mph fastball and average slider. Hudgins' fastball can reach 93 mph, but it also can be ordinary. Always searching for an edge, Hudgins toyed with a cutter and a split-finger fastball in the Arizona Fall League. He could arrive in Arlington in the second half of 2005. -
Scouting director Grady Fuson selected Hudgins in the 20th round out of high school in 2000, when he held the same position in Oakland. The 2003 Pacific-10 Conference pitcher of the year, Hudgins was at his best in the College World Series. Though Rice won the national title, Hudgins dealt the Owls their only loss in the three-game finals and was named Most Outstanding Player after going 3-0, 1.88 in 24 innings. His workload, however, became a controversial topic. Hudgins piled up an NCAA Division I-high 165 innings and threw 350 pitches in 10 days at the CWS. While it's impossible to know how directly it was related to his use at Stanford, Hudgins reported shoulder soreness and worked just two innings after signing for $490,000. Doctors discovered that he has thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that causes circulation problems in his right arm. Hudgins opted for a conservative rehabilitation program as opposed to surgery. The operation is a relatively minor procedure that Kenny Rogers recovered from in 2001, and he discussed it with Hudgins. When healthy, Hudgins can carve up the plate with command of four average pitches. His fastball, which topped out at 93 mph in high school, is regularly clocked at 88-89 mph. His changeup is his most advanced pitch and has plus potential, while his curveball and slider both have tight rotation and depth. Hudgins is intelligent and knows how to go after hitters. He took a risk by avoiding surgery, and the concern is that his condition won't heal on its own and will set him back further in 2004. He was throwing twice a week during the offseason in preparation for spring training and a potential assignment to high Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Everyone who saw him had something good to say about Hudgins, the former Stanford ace who streaked through the league in his first pro season on his way to a late-season promotion to Triple-A. Hudgins wasn't overpowering but earned accolades from managers for being an intelligent, prepared pitcher with one plus pitch. In 12 starts, Hudgins carved up TL hitters with excellent command of an 88-90 mph fastball he wasn't afraid to use on the inner half, and a solid average changeup and slider. He put hitters away with a plus curveball, his best pitch, and had a good feel for when to pitch backwards (using his curve in fastball counts) and when not to do so. "I didn't see a weakness, except he wasn't overpowering," Brundage said. "He had a real nice feel for what he was doing, and he could really go backdoor with the breaking ball." -
After Hudgins threw 350 pitches in a 10-day span at the 2003 College World Series, he pitched just two pro innings that summer before being shut down with a sore shoulder. Stanford coaches were criticized for their use of Hudgins, but it turned out he had a circulatory condition and he bounced back fine this year. He finished the season in Triple-A and will push to join Texas' rotation in 2005. His fastball sits in the high 80s, but Hudgins makes up for a lack of overpowering stuff by throwing strikes and outsmarting hitters. He has two above-average secondary pitches, a tight curveball and a changeup that he can add and subtract velocity from. He has excellent command of all three pitches. Hudgins' work ethic and intellectual approach drew obvious comparisons to Greg Maddux. The consensus, however, was that he'd settle into the majors as a long reliever or setup man.
