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SALT LAKE CITY — As Michael Brantley struck out to end the 2019 World Series, Washington Nationals closer Daniel Hudson tossed his glove well beyond the television frame viewers across the globe saw before embracing his teammates in a chaotic celebration.
And when you consider his season or even his topsy-turvy journeyman career, who could blame him for showing that much emotion?
“I never thought I’d be in that position,” Hudson told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal in the clubhouse after the game. He was donning ski goggles to protect his eyes from champagne as his teammates celebrated behind him.
The fact that Hudson of all people closed out the Nationals' first-ever championship was enjoyable on many levels because there wasn't any reason to believe he'd find himself in that position.
Before the 2019 season, Hudson was a rather pedestrian relief pitcher who had bounced around a few ball clubs and, analytically, hadn’t been an above-replacement level pitcher since 2011. He underwent two Tommy John injuries and the 32-year-old’s best deal on the table heading into the year was a minor league offer from the Los Angeles Angels.
By all means, Hudson probably would have started the year with the Salt Lake Bees had he not been cut from the Angels' organization. He signed with the Angels on Feb. 13 and was assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake five days later. But after posting a 6.75 ERA in 6 2/3 innings during spring training, the Angels released him one week before the season began and just before the Bees’ opening-day roster was announced.
On March 25, three days after the Angels axed him, Hudson signed with the rebuilding Toronto Blue Jays, where he immediately made the Opening Day roster — and promptly served up an extra-innings home run to lose Toronto’s season opener. He then developed into a reliable setup man before the July 31 trade deadline, which made him a potential trade commodity.
When Hudson was traded just before the deadline, it barely made a blip in transaction news. Houston acquired Zack Greinke — who started Game 7 Wednesday — the same day and that overshadowed many of the other transactions across baseball. USA Today’s recap of the deadline noted Hudson's deal as the second important Nationals bullpen deal that day.
Hudson only got better in Washington, though. He ended the year with a 1.44 ERA in 25 innings and became the team’s closer. His 2.0 Wins Above Replacement through 2019 was the second-highest he had posted in his career and was the highest in nearly a full decade.
If Hudson’s name sounds familiar, it may be because he made headlines when he skipped the first game of the National League Championship Series to be with his wife for the birth of their first daughter. That move drew criticism from a former Miami Marlins executive, who then got roasted for the poor take.
Then, once he returned, Hudson became the Nationals’ go-to reliever, and he got out of a few jams during the World Series before Wednesday. By the time he entered the ninth inning of Game 7, it wasn’t a save situation. Thanks to Howie Kendrick — a former Salt Lake Bee himself — and other clutch late-inning hits, there wasn’t much to think about other than how to celebrate.
Hudson is why we watch, embrace and love sports. When we see someone or a group of people overcome the odds to conquer giants and accomplish greatness, it’s a reminder that our own potential is limitless — albeit maybe in our respective fields.
His grit and determination to persevere only to reach the pinnacle of success inspire us to believe our rewards might be around the corner if we push through our own obstacles.
As the team did celebrate, Hudson was asked if he thought he’d collect the final out of the World Series back when he got cut by the Angels.
“I think there’s no chance I’d believe you. It’s been a crazy year, but it just makes this moment even more worth it,” he replied.
When you consider he was released from a minor league deal days before the season began, it’s hard to imagine anyone would have believed it either.
