Dan Hudson is a starting pitcher for the Old Dominion Monarchs. The big (6-foot-4) righty from Virginia Beach has thrown 92 innings this year, racking up 107 strikeouts and only 33 walks. He’s had a problem with the longball (15), which has inflated his ERA to 4.70, but he should still expect to hear his name called on the first day of the draft. Dan answered some questions via e-mail for StopTheWave and here is what he had to say…
First off, start by telling everyone where you grew up, how you became interested in baseball and a little about your prep baseball career.
I grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia and started playing baseball in a Pony Baseball League when I was about four or five years old. I started playing when my dad got me glove for my birthday and it pretty much went from there. I played on the JV baseball team my freshman and sophomore years of high school. I dressed out for varsity games my sophomore year. I hit a growth spurt over the summer and added weight and mph to my fastball and started on the varsity team the next two years. I played both corner infield positions when I didn't pitch, but was a pretty good first baseman. District player of the year my senior year, 1st team All-State as a pitcher and 2nd team as a first baseman.
What made you choose to attend Old Dominion and what have you learned, as a pitcher, from your time there?
I took a visit to Old Dominion after I had talked to the coaches a few times. At first I thought I wanted to go away from home but after taking a tour I really liked the campus and the coaches were awesome and I really thought it was a good thing to stay really close to home. My family can watch me pitch every game. The biggest thing I have learned at ODU from Coach Meyers is to go right at hitters with the fastball and get ahead and eventually the hitters will pretty much get themselves out. At first i was afraid of too much contact but after a while I started letting them put the ball in play and let my defense make plays.
For someone who hasn't seen you pitch, tell us about yourself. What pitches do you throw? How would you rate them? How do you like to attack hitters? Write your autobiographical scouting report!
I throw a four-seam fastball and a two-seamer with some sink on it. I also throw a curveball, slider and circle changeup. I usually throw fastballs early in the count to get ahead, but also like to get ahead with my slider. I throw the other two more even or ahead in the count. I usually use my curveball as a strikeout pitch, and use the changeup when I think that the hitter is sitting "dead red"
You pitched out in the Cape last summer. What was that experience like?
The Cape was an awesome experience. Not only from a baseball stand point but to be around some of the best players in the country was also a blast. Any time you get to test your skills with the best players in the nation is awesome. I thought I did pretty well, and I had an amazing time up there while I was playing. The atmosphere is one of a kind.
Do you have any superstitions? If so, how did they develop?
I don't really have any crazy superstitions, although I do like to eat similar types of foods on the day I pitch. I went through a stretch of time where I would get up in the morning and make the same thing for breakfast every Friday before I pitched.
What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career?
Winning the state championship my seniopr year of high school was pretty cool. My team was down 8-0 after three innings but we tied it up in the seventh and won it with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning. I hit a bases-clearing double in the 7th to tie it up.
Do you have a favorite MLB team?
My favorite team is the Atlanta Braves. I follow them pretty closely throughout the season.
Who is your favorite pro baseball player? Is there a pitcher that you try and model your game after?
My favorite player is Chipper Jones, partly because I am a Braves fan. I like the way he plays. I don't really model my game after any one pitcher but I do like to watch Josh Beckett pitch. The way he attacks hitters and his demeanor on the mound is incredible. I feel like sometimes I have that "bulldog" competitive drive on the mound that he has.
What player have you played with or against that makes you say, "That guy is going places!"?
Playing with pretty much everyone in the Cape, you say to yourself, "Man, that kid is going to be a good pro player." But I played with and against Justin Upton when I was younger. We played on different AAU teams until we were about 12, then we played on the same team for about two years. He's always done some pretty incredible things on the field that have opened eyes, including mine.
Have you ever pitched to Justin Upton? If not, who is the best hitter you've faced?
We played in different high school districts, and our teams never met up in the post season. We were one game away from playing each other in the Regional Championship our senior years, but didn't quite work out that way. I do remember one time when I faced him when I was a sophomore, and I got him to pop up to third base. I don't know if jammed him or if he just missed it. Probably the last part...
If you get drafted by an NL team, you're going to have to swing the bat. How's the other side of your game?
I hope I do get picked up by an NL team. I really miss hitting. I hit over .400 my senior year with 9 homeruns, but the opportunity to hit at ODU hasn't been there. I know I haven't hit in three years, but definitely think that I can still do it. I hope i get the chance to in the future.
We've now heard about Dan Hudson, the ballplayer, but tell us about Dan Hudson, the person. What do you like to do when you're not playing baseball? What is something unique about you?
I'm really pretty much like any other baseball player. I can't get enought of the game so I like to watch it on TV or play baseball video games. As far as outside the game goes I like to stay active and play other sports with my friends. I really like to play golf, even though I'm not very good at it. I'm determined to get better though, it's an awesome game.
Finally, what’s your favorite movie? Music group/artist? Book?
I like a lot of different movies. My all time favorite though is probably Bull Durham. I also like a lot of Denzel Washington movies, Remember he Titans is up there. I listen to pretty much every different kind of music, rock, rap, country. No big favorites, though. I don't really have any favorite books. I enjoy mystery or sports stories, though.