MINOR LEAGUES : Hudson’s Career Resurrected After Mishaps

What are minor league baseball players willing to endure to reach the major leagues?

In Jim Hudson’s case, the former El Segundo High and Harbor College pitcher has survived a car accident and major reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder.

The mishaps required Hudson, a member of the Kansas City Royals organization, to go through an extensive rehabilitation period to overcome the injuries.

Only a baseball has more stitches than Hudson.

“It would take something major for me to quit,” said Hudson, who was drafted by the Royals in the 22nd round of the 1987 amateur draft. “I appreciate being alive, let alone getting a chance to play baseball.”

After playing one season at the rookie level, Hudson’s professional career nearly came to an abrupt end when he was involved in a car accident at a bank near his Westchester home in 1987. Hudson had stepped out of his car to get money from an automatic teller when his car was hit head-on by a drunken driver. The impact sent Hudson sprawling backwards underneath his car and his left foot was pinned by a front tire.

“I was the only car in the parking lot and I got hit,” Hudson said. “I remember lying on my back and blood was gushing down my face. I don’t know how I got my foot out from underneath the tire.”

Hudson was taken by paramedics to Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina del Rey where he received stitches for his head and right leg. He also suffered broken ribs and a sprained left ankle.

“The only place I didn’t suffer a scratch or cut was on my right arm,” said Hudson, a right-handed pitcher.

As a result of the accident, Hudson lost 20 pounds and 5 m.p.h. off his fastball. But he learned there was more to pitching than throwing hard.

“I lost velocity on my fastball and my curve ball wasn’t as sharp,” Hudson said. “I had no choice but to learn how to become a pitcher because I couldn’t throw fastballs by anyone.”

While playing for the Baseball City Royals’ rookie team, Hudson surprised his coaches with his control. He finished with a 5-2 record and 1.95 earned-run average. He had 77 strikeouts and 11 walks.

But Hudson knew he needed more work to advance to Class A ball. During the off-season, Hudson developed a nutrition and weightlifting program with the help of his friend Derek Hindigian, a power-lifter.

His new diet consisted of foods high in protein--tuna, bananas and milk. His weightlifting routine consisted of doing 10 sets of squats every day.

But it was not enough. Hudson needed help spiritually and became a “born-again” Christian.

“When it got to the point that I couldn’t do it on my own, I turned to the Lord for guidance,” Hudson said. “I’ve always been a Christian, but I strayed away from the Lord.”

Hudson also married his high school sweetheart Noelle Hines before attending training camp in 1989.

Stronger, heavier and happier, Hudson impressed the Royals with his comeback and was selected the most dedicated and valuable pitcher among Royal minor leaguers.

Originally ticketed for Appleton, Wis., Hudson remained in Haines, Fla., to play for the Baseball City Royals, a high Class A team.

Two months later, Hudson felt a twinge in his right shoulder and was sent home to be examined by orthopedic surgeon Frank Jobe, who recommended rehabilitation. When the pain persisted, Hudson became a guinea pig for an experimental surgery to reconstruct the ligament structure in his shoulder. Jobe later performed the same surgery on Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser.

“Jobe said that once he cut into my shoulder, there was a chance that I would never pitch again,” Hudson said. “He told me it would be at least 15 months before I could even pick up a baseball.”

But Jobe didn’t know how determined Hudson was to continue his career.

Hudson moved to Hemet, Calif., to attend a rehabilitation center. After working three days a week for five months, Hudson was back playing catch. He later increased to long tosses every other day and by April, Hudson was back in spring training.

The Royals, not wanting to take a chance, kept Hudson from throwing off a mound and he remained an extra month for extended spring training.

Hudson didn’t make his first appearance this season until May 12. In nine starts for Baseball City, Hudson has a 4-3 record and a 3.44 ERA in 55 innings.

“I’m getting stronger every day,” Hudson said. “It took me three games before I could really cut loose with a fastball.

“I’ve suffered enough scraps for one career. Now I’m ready to prove what I can do.”