June 5, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame junior C Joe Hudson was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft Tuesday. He is the highest drafted Irish catcher since Ken Plesha went to the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the 1965 draft.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be part of the Cincinnati Reds organization,” said Hudson. “This is truly a dream come true. However, my ultimate goal is to become a Major League player. I have a lot of work still ahead of me. I can’t thank the coaching staff at Notre Dame enough for what they have done for me not only as a baseball player but as a person.
“I want to thank all of my Notre Dame teammates from this year as well. If I do, in fact, sign, I will certainly miss each and everyone of them.”
“We as a coaching staff are so thrilled for Joe,” said second-year head coach Mik Aoki. “He has always been a premium catch-and-throw player, but his hard work at the plate paid off with a breakout offensive season. This is a tremendous reward for an outstanding year.”
Hudson was a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award and second-team all-BIG EAST selection in 2012. He was the first Notre Dame catcher to lead the Irish in hitting since Mike Amrhein in 1997. Hudson started 57 games this past season, the most by a Notre Dame backstop since Paul O’Toole started 65 games in 2002.
Hudson hit .332 with 39 runs scored, 14 doubles, one triple, six home runs and 39 RBI. He registered a .500 slugging percentage and .432 on-base percentage. He also collected 21 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI contests.
Hudson led the BIG EAST in throwing out base runners (.380, 19 of 50). In fact, Notre Dame led the BIG EAST in fewest opponent stolen bases (32) and fewest opponent stolen base attempts (56).
Hudson was the 16th catcher overall and 10th college backstop chosen in the draft.
Year avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi slg% bb hbp so ob% sf sh sb-att2010 .264 22-16 53 9 14 1 0 1 6 .340 5 0 13 .311 3 0 1-12011 .239 53-51 163 18 39 10 2 0 14 .325 17 3 20 .322 0 6 2-42012 .332 57-57 202 39 67 14 1 6 39 .500 23 14 32 .432 2 0 3-4Total .287 132-124 418 66 120 25 3 7 59 .411 45 17 65 .375 5 6 6-9
Over the last 15 years, Notre Dame has had 40 players (including Hudson) get drafted despite going unselected out of high school.
The three-day draft continues on Wednesday. Check back to www.und.com for further draft updates.
— ND —