Tim Hudson was going about his business on Wednesday night, having one of his best starts of the season, when a freak (and gruesome) ankle injury struck, costing him the rest of the 2013 season. It also left teammates stunned and with a sense of sadness over losing the veteran starter.
“We won, but it’s a tough night,” catcher Brian McCann said.“He’s huge, he’s the veteran presence around here that people go to — it’s Tim Hudson. The guy’s got (205) wins. Best teammate you’re ever going to have. And everybody in here feels bad for him.”
“He was kind of in disbelief,” Braves second baseman Dan Uggla said about Hudson. “You could see the thoughts running through his head: This can’t be happening. This is unbelievable.
“We’re talking about a guy that had a chance to complete a game and the shutout and the whole thing,” Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “And now you don’t even hear music in the clubhouse.”
Hudson, threw 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball in the game. But it was the final out he recorded, covering first base on an Eric Young Jr. ground ball that left the pitcher writhing on the field in agony. Young accidently stepped on the back of Hudson’s leg, snapping his ankle and leaving the 38-year-old right hander writhing on the field in absolute agony.
“I knew I didn’t get any of the base. I got all of his foot,” an apologetic Young said after the game. “I pretty much knew it was broke right when I did it. That’s why I ran back to him and tried to console him as much as I could and to apologize.”
The injury will require surgery and takes Hudson out for the year for the Braves. Hudson (8-7) on the year won his 205th career game, it was his fourth straight winning start as he was just rounding into form for the pennant race. He had a 3.97 ERA and 1.188 WHIP on the season. The loss of Hudson leaves a hole in the Braves rotation, and it remains to be seen if this will prompt them into a trade before the upcoming MLB non-waiver trade deadline, which comes next week.
It also leaves Hudson’s future in doubt as he is scheduled to be a free agent after this year’s World Series.
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