Pirates Add Depth Piece in Catcher Joe Hudson
For the Pittsburgh Pirates, catcher was a big position of need for the team entering the 2021 season. Behind Jacob Stallings at the Big League level, you had Luke Maile, Andrew Susac, and John Ryan Murphy and behind them, the field was even less void of offensive talent. General Manager Ben Cherington has already made a couple of moves to add depth, claiming Michael Perez off waivers and trading for prospect Endy Rodriguez, and he added another depth piece late Monday afternoon. The Pirates signed catcher Joe Hudson as a Minor League Free Agent and included an invite to 2021 Big League Spring Training.
Hudson was drafted in 2016 by the Cincinnati Reds and has already been a sort of journeyman, joining his fifth organization. At 29-years-old, he is looking for an organization that he can settle into, even if that means providing depth at the position. He was once a strong hitter in college, but that bat has not followed him to the professional ranks. However, he has been a strong defender throughout his career, never posting a fielding percentage below the .990 mark. He has played just 18 games in the Major Leagues going 5-30 (.167) with an RBI while drawing two walks and striking out six times. This was a move clearly aimed at adding depth to the roster, and we dive into Hudson's career and what he can bring to the Pirates organization.
A Young Journeyman
Coming out of college, Joe Hudson was a solid hitter at Notre Dame and looked like he had all the tools to be a pro ballplayer. During his sophomore year at Notre Dame, Hudson hit .332 with six home runs and 39 RBI in 57 games. Hudson was the leading hitter for the Fighting Irish that season and finished third on the team in RBI. As a result, he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds and began his career the following year in 2013. Once ye got to pro ball, he saw a decline in stats hitting .247 with a home run and 27 RBI in Low-A during that first season, but that is to be expected with growing pains. But, the higher he got in the system, the lower his batting average began to fall.
By 2017, he was hitting just .171 in Double-A, and the Reds had run out of patience with Hudson. They ended up trading him to the Los Angeles Angels for cash during the 2018 season. He played 26 games in Triple-A for the Angels and found his swing hitting .311 with three home runs and 14 RBI, and earned a call to the Big Leagues. He made his MLB debut in a pinch-hitting role on September 8th, 2018, and drove in his first, and only, Major League RBI with a groundout. He would appear in just eight games for the Angels that season and hit .167 with one RBI in 12 at-bats and looked overmatched at the plate.
That off-season, Hudson would hit free agency for the first time in his career and signed a Minor League contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. He once again spent the majority of the year in Triple-A and showed power hitting .223 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI. However, he again didn't get much of a Major League shot as he appeared in only one at-bat for the Cardinals and struck out. He was once again released following the season and signed another Minor League contract with the Seattle Mariners. With the Minor League season being canceled, he got his biggest shot at Major League playing time, appearing in nine games. He went just 3-17 (.167) in those at-bats and did not pick up a single extra-base hit all season. With the Minor Leagues returning in 2021, Hudson looks to head to Triple-A Indianapolis and provide depth for the Pirates in case of any injuries that may occur.
Hudson Providing Depth
While the full list of Pirates non-roster invitees has not been announced yet, Joe Hudson becomes the fourth NRI to get an invite to Spring Training. He joins fellow catcher Andrew Susac, RHP Clay Holmes, and IF Wilmer Difo as the four Minot League Free Agent signings this season. Hudson will more than likely begin the year with Susac at Triple-A Indianapolis as they try to provide depth in case of an injury at the Major League level. Hudson has had some good Triple-A showings but nothing has materialized for him past that. At 29-years old, he is getting later in his career and his chances of making it at the Major League level are beginning to dwindle.
He will join a group of catchers slated for Triple-A this season with Susac and Christian Kelley also likely to start there this season. It will be a battle for playing time, and if someone in the lower levels outperforms Hudson it could mean the end of his Pirates career. However, you can never have too many catchers in Spring Training with the number of bullpen sessions there are, and Hudson will help get the Pirates pitchers ready for this season. He will also see a lot of playing time at the beginning of Spring Training while Stallings is easing into things and that will give the Pirates coaches a chance to get a good look at him. It is up to Hudson to raise his stock in the organization in a battle for the third catcher's spot.
As far as whether or not we will see Hudson in Pittsburgh this season, I think it is very unlikely. Unless something drastic happens or someone gets hurt at the Major League level, Hudson will serve as a Minor League depth piece and not much more. While his defense is strong, his offensive struggles have hampered him and he will probably serve as a back-up at Triple-A. Out of the three catchers starting the year at Triple-A I would guess Kelley gets most of the reps with Susac and Hudson serving as back-ups. It is a depth signing for the Pirates and one that gives them another Minor League option at the catcher position.
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