Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Keeps Door Slightly Open for Potential Daniel Hudson Postseason Return

Could the reliever make his way back?

It's been an unfortunate year and a half for Daniel Hudson. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher became a high leverage arm in his second stint with the team in 2022, before his season ended prematurely when he tore his ACL that June. 

He made his way back to LA this past June and looked like his old self as he put up three scoreless innings across a trio of appearances, including a save against the Pittsburgh Pirates in early July.

However, it was after that save when things took another turn for the worse. 

Hudson tore his right MCL that night, and it looked like his year was again over just as it was ramping up. 

The veteran is making strides though as he threw to live hitters this week, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts relayed his encouragement to reporters. 

“For us right now, just to get him through that, and hopefully, I hear back that it went well, he came out of it well. But it was just encouraging to see him get some hitters and I think we’ll revisit this in another four or five days.”

via

SportsNet LA

The fact that Hudson's status is even able to be revisited is a welcome sign for LA. The team needs all the bullpen depth they can get at this point, and a surprising potential addition of Hudson would certainly help. 

Despite the optimism, however, Roberts still considers the right-hander a "longshot" to return. With that said, the door remains somewhat open if the Dodgers advance far enough in the playoffs. 

“I think so,” Roberts said in regards to it still being a longshot. “Our expectation is to play through October so if we can continue to build him up, the long shot becomes shorter and shorter. So I think the most important thing is to continue to pass the certain markers.”

via

Fabian Ardaya

of The Athletic

Granted, the odds for Hudson to make a return to the mound so soon after such a severe injury aren't in his favor, but it's still encouraging for him to be making steady progress. 

And maybe that progress can lead to him contributing in October.