When the White Sox claimed left-handed pitcher Bryan Hudson off waivers from the Mets in late March, it didn’t generate much of a reaction from fans. It was a minor move that felt more like added depth than anything else. A little more than a month later, that perception has changed dramatically. He has paid massive dividends in the early going and looks to be one of the better moves Chris Getz made this offseason.
Rollercoaster Career Arc
What makes Hudson’s success interesting is that this is not the first time he has been good at the MLB level, nor is it even his first stint with the White Sox. In 43 appearances with the Brewers in 2024, he put up a 1.73 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9, allowing 28 hits in 62.1 innings and becoming one of the more dominant lefty relievers in the game. He looked to be a key bullpen piece for Milwaukee until he fell on hard times the following season. His walk rate spiked at the start of 2025 and he quickly fell out of favor. The Brewers ultimately designated him for assignment last July, with the White Sox claiming him off waivers shortly after. He made just four appearances with the Sox last season before getting DFAed again as the corresponding move for the Austin Hays signing.
Recent Resurgence With White Sox
Hudson’s second stint with the White Sox has gone much differently. After allowing a run in each of his first two appearances to start the season, he has since made 18 consecutive scoreless appearances. His ERA is now below 1.00 for the season and he ranks among MLB’s best in advanced metrics like barrel%, hard-hit%, ground ball%, and extension. He is also tied for fourth in MLB in appearances with 20, pitching in exactly half the White Sox games so far this season. He has quickly become the most trusted left-hander for Will Venable out of the bullpen, even more so than free agent signing Sean Newcomb.
Unique Traits
Hudson is an fascinating player for multiple reasons. The most obvious is his size. At 6-8, he is one of the tallest pitchers in the league. Yet despite his towering frame, he is not a hard thrower. He averages just 91.7 MPH on his four-seam fastball, nearly two MPH slower than the average lefty. Even without overpowering stuff, he has experienced a lot of success this year while throwing his four-seamer 59% of the time.
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His success comes from deception and pitch mix rather than pure velocity. Hudson pairs his fastball with a sweeper that consistently keeps hitters off balance. His arm angle is reminiscent of Chris Sale and makes him very deceptive. He is also one of the best in baseball in terms of extension, meaning his fastball appears faster than it actually is. It’s tough for hitters to pick up the ball out of his hand.
Bryan* Hudson deserves some flowers
20.0 IP, 0.95 ERA, 22 SO
He’s pitched 18 consecutive scoreless outings and hasn’t given up a run since MARCH! pic.twitter.com/7s560NLkom
— Brett on 35th (@haffball7) May 10, 2026
Hudson credits his resurgence to improved mechanics and confidence. It’s also not a coincidence that current White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven was in Milwaukee when Hudson had his best stretch with the Brewers.
Potential Gem
Relievers are volatile. Hudson’s career path is proof of that. He seems to have recaptured the magic he had in 2024 though and has quality become an integral part of the White Sox turnaround in the early going. If he can keep this going, he could be on the South Side for a while.
