Bryan
Hudson

1st team All State: The 2015 PBR Player of the Year led Alton to a 30-7 record, leaving as the all-time leader in career innings (198), career wins (25), single-season ERA (0.47), career ERA (1.23), single season strikeouts (152), and career strikeouts (323). He’s also tied for single-season wins with 10. The talented southpaw went 10-2 this season with a 0.47 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched, video game type numbers. Hudson also did damage at the plate, leading the Redbirds in batting average (.436), doubles (14), triples (six), home runs (four), and RBI (49). Hudson became the first Illinois prep off the board in the MLB Draft, when the Chicago Cubs selected him in the 3^rd round with the 82^nd overall pick. He’s expected to begin his professional career shortly.

5/14/15 - 6-foot-8, 215-pound lanky and athletic left-handed pitcher, wide shoulders, high waist, extremely long levers, ranked No. 2 in Illinois’ 2015 class, quickly climbing up MLB draft boards with his dominating performances this spring. Signability put aside, Hudson is a top three round talent. Works from short, quick, high ¾ arm slot, tall-fall delivery, shoulders slightly uphill, creates good downhill angle on fastball, occasional arm side run. Fastball sat 88-90, touching 91 mph in the first inning. Works from the third base side of the rubber, stride direction is in line towards home plate on fastball, drifts across his body slightly, landing slightly closed at times on breaking ball, creating tougher angle. Spins off on heel at times at finish. Arm slot looked to be up a tick from the fall, creating improved depth on 75-78 mph curveball with late breaking, two-plane break, 1/7 shape. Showed the ability to land breaking ball for a strike with bigger shape, then bury it with two strikes, particularly to back foot of right-handed hitters. Breaking ball is currently major league average, has the chance to be above average to plus as he adds power to pitch, best high school breaking ball I’ve seen this year. Flashed one changeup for a hard hit ground ball out to first at 83 mph. Fastball sat 87-89 mph in the middle innings, curveball ranged anywhere from 71-76 mph, shows the ability to add and subtract when throwing it for strikes or burying it. Sat 86-87 mph in the sixth, reaching back for 89 mph on a swinging strikeout. Still up to 88 mph in the 7^th. Hudson was pitching on a severely sprained ankle from a sliding mishap earlier in the week. Still fielded his position well, impressed with athleticism covering first by bare handing the underhand feed from his first baseman when it was flipped behind him. Also went 2-for-3 with a double, hitting in the three hole for the Redbirds. Hudson’s frame can easily add another 20 plus pounds with weight training and maturity, specifically in his lower half. He has future major league starting rotation type ability and perhaps more upside than any prospect in the Midwest. Reports have his fastball up to 93 mph this spring, and he has thrown a significant amount of innings (61.1 IP in 11 games started, with 129 strikeouts).

7/9/14 - 6-foot-7, 200-pound lanky left-handed pitcher currently ranked No. 10 in Illinois’ 2015 class, No. 45 overall.  High waist, extremely projectable with long levers.  Fastball sat 86-88 from windup, and 88-89 out of the stretch.  Does a better job of gathering over the rubber out of the stretch, and velocity played up as a result.  Works with a short, quick, high ¾ arm slot, with smooth rhythm, level shoulders, and lower half staying in line with home plate.  Stride length is short for height, but gets good down-hill plane on pitches.  Breaking ball was 71-74 mph out of windup, but 74-76 out of the stretch with plus slider action.  Lower velocity looks more like a rolling curveball.  77-80 mph changeup was thrown at fastball arm speed with some occasional cutting action.  Hudson is a high level Division-1 prospect and should garner significant attention from pro scouts as well next spring.

4/22/14 - Currently ranked No. 61 in Illinois’ 2015 class; No. 283 overall. One of the hotter 2015 prospects this spring. Extremely long, projectable 6-foot-7 left-hander, thin frame with plenty of room for physical development. Has been statistically dominant this spring, but didn’t have his best day against No. 13 O’Fallon. Uses his height to advantage; works downhill well, fastball has steep plane with some arm-side run. Fastball sat 83-85 mph in the first, then settled in at 81-84 in the following three innings. As he physically develops and tweaks some mechanics, has chance to throw considerably harder. Curveball is vastly improved since last time we saw him. Throws it more firmly, in 74-76 range, often with tight 12/6 action. Showed excellent feel for pitch and serves as his go-to pitch. Other times he flips curve in there for a get-me-over strike. In four innings, he struck out five, walked five and allowed four hits. His five walks are a bit misleading, as he was around the plate, and O’Fallon’s hitters were patient. Overall, I can see Hudson developing into one of the higher-interest draft prospects next year, or more likely when he is a junior in college.

4/25/13 Extremely projectable 6-foot-5, 175-pound sophomore left-hander. Long arms, long legs, skinny frame. Works from high ¾ slot, short arm action, arm works clean and easily. For size, has very short stride, inhibiting his ability to get over frontside and get extension. Fastball in the 76-78 range with significant arm side run. Throws curveball consistently for strikes; 67-69 with some depth and bite. Stays tall, works downhill well.  Currently ranked No. 62 in Illinois’ 2015 class. Has potential to throw significantly harder in time.

1/20/13 - Lanky, long-limbed 6-foot-5, 175-pound left-hander with projectable frame and plenty of room to fill out. For size, has smooth, repeatable delivery. High 3/4 slot with long arm action. Arm works free and easily. Fastball sat at 78-79 mph with slight run. Commanded fastball for strikes. Breaking ball is more of a sweeping slurve, thrown at 68-69 mph. Slows arm action on 66-68 mph changeup. With his frame and arm action, Hudson should see his velocity climb in the coming years.