White Sox left-handed reliever Bryan Hudson was a pretty big deal as a prospect before the 2015 MLB Draft — and not just because of his 6-8 frame.
Though MLB.com ranked him as the 71st prospect, then-Cubs president Theo Epstein personally scouted Hudson when he pitched for Alton (Illinois) High School. Hudson never met Epstein, but he heard Epstein was at the game.
The Cubs ended up drafting Hudson in the third round on the recommendation of the late, great area scout Stan Zielinski, who also signed Kyle Schwarber and Jeff Samardzija, among many others, in his 38 years of scouting.
But after pitching at every level in the Cubs’ system, Hudson was let go in November 2022. To this day, he doesn’t understand what went wrong. He eventually landed with the Brewers and had an impressive 2024, but he couldn’t duplicate it in 2025 and was waived.
Enter the White Sox, who claimed him last year before trading him to the Mets for cash and then reacquiring him when the Mets waived him. Now, more than 10 years after being drafted, the 29-year-old Hudson entered the game Thursday against the Royals on a career-best run.
He hadn’t allowed a run in 17⅔ innings, spanning 19 outings. His 19-game scoreless streak was the longest by a Sox pitcher since Matt Albers went a franchise-record 30 in a row over the 2015 and ’16 seasons. The Sox’ longest single-season streak is 29, set by Jesse Crain in 2013.
“It’s one of those things where you don’t try to think about it,” Hudson told the Sun-Times. “You just go in, do your routine and just get ready to pitch.”
That he has. The last time Hudson allowed a run was March 31 in Miami. Three days earlier, he allowed one in Milwaukee — and that’s it. In 20 innings covering 21 appearances, Hudson had a 0.90 ERA with 17 hits, nine walks and 22 strikeouts. His ERA is the lowest by a Sox pitcher in his first 21 outings of a season since Alex Colome had a 0.84 mark in 2020.
“We have a really good plan with the catchers,” Hudson said. “Me and the pitching coaches [Zach Bove and assistant Bobby Hearn] went over some stuff usage-wise, and we’re recognizing things that are working.
“The fastball’s been working, and then also the sweeper has been getting them off the heater and allowing me to get on them with the fastball.”
Hudson isn’t overpowering. His four-seam fastball has averaged 92 mph and his sweeper 81, but his movement has been deceptive.
Hudson is one of four Illinois natives on the Sox, along with right-hander reliever Trevor Richards (Aviston), left-handed starter Noah Schultz (Naperville) and outfielder Sam Antonacci (Springfield). His height landed him several scholarship offers to play basketball, but he stuck with baseball.
Growing up about 35 miles north of St. Louis, Hudson grew up as a Cardinals fan, thanks to his grandmother, Kim, who took him to games at the old and new Busch Stadium.
She altered her loyalty once the rival Cubs drafted Hudson.
“Obviously, it was a blessing [being drafted], no doubt,” Hudson said. “It was a big switch. My grandma was pretty much, Now I’m a Cardinals and a Cubs fan.”
Hudson could face the Cubs this weekend in the first round of the Crosstown Series at Rate Field. It wouldn’t be the first time. In his best big-league season, with the Brewers in 2024 (1.73 ERA in 43 games), he faced the Cubs five times in relief, allowing three runs in 7⅔ innings — and going 2-0.
He’ll be looking for more of that. His loyalty has changed, too.