Updated Bryan Hudson stats prove Dodgers gave up an absolute monster

The Los Angeles Dodgers are typically the team that takes an unwanted player from one team and turns him into a coveted asset. But Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman may have made a grave error after designating Bryan Hudson for assignment last offseason.

To be fair, Hudson's departure opened up a spot for Japanese superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto. On top of that, Hudson's previous stint in the majors yielded a 7.27 ERA in 8.1 innings of work.

But the left-hander was dominant at Triple-A Oklahoma City last season, posting a 35.7 % strikeout rate, 2.43 ERA, and 3.06 FIP. Hudson has turned into quite the reliever after being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, and it's left Friedman and the entire Dodgers' front office in mourning.

Updated Bryan Hudson stats prove Dodgers gave up an absolute monster

Hudson has been pitching on another level since joining the Brew Crew last winter. The Dodgers shipped Hudson to the Cream City in exchange for Justin Chambers. The 18-year-old Chambers is currently on the minor-league injured list, while Hudson is dispatching of major league hitters with ease. One look at Hudson's eye-popping advanced stats will have Dodgers fans beating their head against the wall.

According to Baseball Savant, Hudson ranks in the 92nd percentile or better in strikeout rate, expected batting average, expected ERA, and barrel rate. Hudson is doing all of this with a fastball that doesn't even average over 92 mph — proving once again that high velocity is not the only way to be an effective pitcher in the big leagues.

Dodgers fans can't complain too much, though. LA's bullpen ranks first in the league in ERA (3.25). The Dodgers relief corps also has the lowest batting average against (.209) in the National League. In fact, the only thing that's really burned the Dodgers' bullpen this season has been the long ball. The 24 homers allowed are the third-most in the NL. However, Hudson's new team leads the way with 26 round-trippers surrendered on the season.

It's always tough to admit one's mistake, but even Friedman has to take ownership for this blunder. Hudson has the third most strikeouts in the majors this season and no reliever with 20 or more appearances in 2024 has a lower ERA. This roster mistake has the potential to come back and bite LA in the postseason — the Brewers are the top team in the NL Central and looked poised to return to the playoffs in 2024.

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