Should Dakota Hudson Make the Colorado Rockies Starting Rotation?
That Colorado Rockies pitching failed spectacularly in 2023 is an accepted fact.
Pitching at elevation is always difficult, and the Rockies began the season with a rotation with little room for error. Add to that Tommy John surgeries for Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela as well as a skull fracture for Ryan Feltoner, and the problems become clear.
It led to the Rockies’ rotation having the highest ERA in baseball and contributed to the team’s 59-103 record. Plus, it led to an exhausted bullpen, which was solid for the first half of the season before collapsing from overuse.
That the Rockies would be conservative during the offseason makes sense because they didn’t need a rotation rebuild — just a remodel. After all, Feltner is back; Márquez should return after the All-Star Break; and Senzatels is projected to pitch again in 2025. The Rockies will spend 2024 evaluating their talent as they prepare for their window to open in earnest next year. Any criticism of the Rockies’ modest offseason fails to take into account where the team is in terms of its rebuild.
But the Rockies knew they needed MLB-ready pitching. So they traded for Cal Quantrill and signed Dakota Hudson, who was nontendered by the St. Louis Cardinals (an organization with its own pitching problems in 2023).
Granted, spring training stats mean nothing — players are trying new things and getting into game-ready form. The early numbers suggest Quantrill will be fine — assuming his shoulder injury is resolved — while Hudson may not.
With this in mind, it’s worth considering how Hudson has done and where his place is on the Rockies’ roster.
Can you give any details about this guy?
I can.
A native of Dunlap, Tennessee, Hudson opted to attend Mississippi State. He was a dominant pitcher there and finished First Team All-SEC.
He was drafted in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Cardinals (36th pick overall) and made his MLB debut in 2018. In 2019, he was sixth in Rookie of the Year voting after finishing the season with a 3.35 ERA in 174.2 innings.
Dakota Hudson 2019 Highlights
He remained solid until 2020 when he underwent Tommy John surgery. He returned in late September of 2021.
From there, things went downhill.
In 2022, he had a 4.45 ERA and the lowest K/BB ratio in MLB (1.13). Those numbers did not improve in 2023 when he had a 4.98 ERA. Moreover, Hudson’s control issues has persisted (career 10.7% BB%). But he’s also the kind of ground ball pitcher the Rockies tend to like (lifetime 55.1% GB%).
Hudson has a three-pitch mix with a 91 mph fastball, a 91.6 mph sinker, and an 85.1 mph slider with the occasional changeup and curveball.
He also has minor league options, which gives the Rockies more flexibility.
What are the spring training numbers?
Again, spring training numbers mean little, so the early data should be met with some skepticism. Also, it’s possible Hudson is still building up his arm.
So far, Hudson has pitched 5.1 innings in which he’s given up six hits, five for runs, four earned. He’s also walked six and struck out five. He has a 6.75 ERA and a -3.6 BB-K%. (You read that right.) His BB/9 is 10.13. His GB% is 41.2%, so below his career average.
This is not encouraging.
What happens next?
The Rockies will need to figure out where he fits in their plans. Does he slot into the rotation? (The conventional wisdom suggests he will.) Or do the Rockies use him in long relief and allow Ryan Feltner and Peter Lambert to start games?
It will be one of the most important questions the Rockies will answer early in the season.
(Kenneth Weber has more here on the Rockies’ spring training pitching data.)
Good news in Broadcasting
ESPN announced yesterday that their “Nerd Casts” will return in 2024.
ESPN says later in the MLB season they will return to having Statcast alternative MLB broadcasts.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 14, 2024
The on-air talent will be @kevinnbrown, @mike_petriello and @IamTrevorMay. https://t.co/4EzXkpVO6O
Those are broadcasts that feature advanced statistics, and joining Kevin Brown and Mike Petriello will be recent Oakland Athletic Trevor May.
I am very here for this development.
What I’m Reading
• We now know what the Rockies will be wearing in their Mexico City series with the Houston Astros.
Paul Lukas
• Shoutout to Yanquiel Fernandez and Adael Amador.
Lorenzo Delgado
• Bud Black reflected on how Tommy John surgery changed the game.
• I suggested a way for the Rockies to handle their six-man platoon.
Renee Dechert
Closing thoughts
That’s it for this week. I hope you’re able to enjoy watching Spring Breakout. The Rockies and D-backs play on Saturday in what should be a great game of young talent.
Thanks for reading —
Renee
