The writing was on the wall: In 17 starts for the Rockies, right-hander Dakota Hudson was 2-12 with a 5.84 ERA and walked nearly as many batters as he struck out.
Sunday, the Rockies designated Hudson for assignment and selected the contract of right-hander Tanner Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque. Tanner will make his major league debut and start against Kansas City on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field.
Hudson, 30, who signed a one-year, $1.5 million free-agent contract to come to Colorado, struggled mightily at Coors Field. He was 0-6 in nine starts with an 8.26 ERA, giving up seven homers. Opponents hit .359 against him.
The right-hander fared much better on the road, going 2-6 with a 3.72 ERA with three homers given up in eight starts. Opponents hit .212 against him.
“With Dakota, it was uneven,” manager Bud Black said Sunday morning. “The walks were troublesome as the season unfolded.”
Hudson struck out 12.3% of the batters faced while walking 11.6%. That’s untenable, particularly when pitching at Coors Field.
Black praised Hudson’s clubhouse presence but added, “Performance-wise, it was time for us to look at somebody else.”
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Plus, veteran right-hander German Marquez will soon complete his rehab assignment with Double-A Hartford and could pitch for the Rockies against the Mets in New York next weekend.
When asked if Hudson’s Coors Field woes were one of the main reasons for designating Hudson, Black said no.
“I don’t think so,” Black said. “I think it was just the collection of all of his starts and not so much Coors Field.”
Bryant update. Veteran first baseman/designated hitter Kris Bryant, recovering from a left rib contusion and strained left oblique, is ramping up his baseball activities and has been hitting in the cage. Bryant will join the Rockies on their upcoming road trip through Cincinnati and New York.
“He will start hitting on the field tomorrow (in Cincinnati),” Black said. “That’s another big step.”
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