After a disastrous Opening Day in which five Chicago White Sox relievers combined to allow eight walks and 10 runs, the team has moved quickly to add another arm to the bullpen.
On Friday, the White Sox claimed left-hander Bryan Hudson off waivers from the New York Mets. If Hudson’s name sounds familiar, it’s because this is not his first stint with the White Sox.
Hudson was claimed off waivers by the White Sox from the Milwaukee Brewers on August 3, and promoted to Chicago two days later. That promotion lasted just five days before he was optioned back to Triple-A Charlotte on August 10. The White Sox recalled him once again on September 2, but he was placed on the injured list two days later with a lower back strain.
Over the offseason, Hudson was DFA’d to make room for the Austin Hays signing, then traded to the Mets for cash considerations. But on Wednesday, he was DFA’d by the Mets, opening the door for another reunion with the White Sox.
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Hudson threw just 15 big-league innings last season across 16 appearances last season. During that stretch, he posted a 4.80 ERA, striking out 19 hitters and walking 13.
The question is, how long will Hudson remain with the White Sox? He is out of minor league options but boasts some intriguing upside. In 2024, he threw a career-high 61.1 innings for the Brewers and limited opponents to a .195 expected batting average, which ranked in the MLB’s top seven percent. He also posted a career-best 1.73 ERA that season, offering a glimpse of his potential as an effective big league reliever.
Hudson has also posted some gaudy strikeout numbers in the minor leagues, averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings in Triple-A. Unlike many of the arms currently in the White Sox bullpen, he isn’t a flamethrower, with his fastball averaging 90 mph.
But Hudson makes up for it with an 80 mph sweeper that features over 45 inches of vertical drop. The White Sox clearly like what he can provide, considering they keep bringing him back into the fold, even after a brutal showing in Spring Training where he allowed six earned runs in 3.1 innings with the Mets.
