Former Cardinal Dakota Hudson is pitching in independent baseball, pursuing dream to get back to the major leagues

By Rob Rains

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Life in independent baseball is all about chasing a dream.

For some players, like former Cardinals pitcher Dakota Hudson, the dream is to get back to the major leagues. It’s the only reason he is pitching this season for the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association.

“I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t think it wasn’t still possible,” Hudson said. “I’m just trying to see what I can do… I just love baseball. I want to keep playing.”

Hudson is 31 now, ten years removed from being one of the Cardinals’ three first-round picks in the 2016 draft out of Mississippi State. He reached the majors in 2018, then won 16 games the next year before he hurt his elbow and had to undergo Tommy John surgery near the end of the 2020 season, the first in a series of injury setbacks.

“I had to fight through some stuff and wasn’t able to be myself,” said Hudson, who finally believes he is fully healthy again for the first time in years. “I want to see what I’ve got.”

Hudson became a free agent after the 2023 season, spent the next year with the Rockies and spent 2025 pitching for the Angels’ Triple A team in Salt Lake City, failing to get a promotion to the major-league team.

“I didn’t really pitch well the first half and the Angels definitely needed some pitching help, but by the time I started pitching well they were out of it,” Hudson said. “They had some prospects they hadn’t tested. I kind of knew the way that was going.”

When he could not find a major-league team that wanted to sign him last winter, Hudson thought his best option was to join the Monarchs. Their home stadium, Legends Field, is a 30-minute drive from his family’s home in Overland Park, allowing him to spend more time with his wife and four young children. Hudson used to train with Matt Hall, who is now the Monarchs’ pitching coach.

“I was looking for a way to keep my career going,” Hudson said. “It’s been a good fit. I’m just trying to take my shot.”

Hudson has been pleased with how his season has gone. He leads the league with six wins, after losing his first start, and is third in the league with a 2.09 ERA. In his 43 innings spread across his seven starts, Hudson has recorded 29 strikeouts and only walked eight batters.

In his most recent start on June 18, Hudson worked a season-high seven innings, allowing two runs.

“This is the first time I’ve had a slider over 84 (mph) since I had Tommy John surgery,” Hudson said. “I’m getting some things moving, I’m filling up the zone. I have no complaints as of right now.”

For years, Hudson has worked out at a training facility in the area owned by former minor-league pitcher Bob Zimmerman, who has closely monitored Hudson’s progress. He believes Hudson is pitching well enough to deserve another shot in the majors.

“He is in a way better spot than he’s been in probably in the last three years,” Zimmerman said. “The stuff is definitely better, the strike percentage is better. He’s back to a point where he is fully healthy and everything is working again.”

One thing that Hudson isn’t doing, and has never done, is throw a baseball at 100 miles per hour, which he believes is something that has changed about the game in recent years.

“There are guys throwing 100 these days like it’s nothing,” Hudson said. “If you were doing that in high A you were in the majors the next day when I was first coming up. I realize the game is getting better, but I’m just trying to put my stamp on it the best I can.”

Zimmerman has worked with enough pitchers over the years to know that there still should be a place for a pitcher like Hudson in the majors – even if he doesn’t throw in the triple digits.

“The velocity is good enough for him to compete and get outs,” Zimmerman said. “He’s in the zone again and his slider is back. I think he would have success if he was throwing in the big leagues right now.”

Hudson hopes there is a major-league organization which shares thst opinion and gives him that chance.

“You’ve just got to get your foot in the door,” Hudson said.

“I think if you put me out there now in comparison to 2024 (in Colorado) I’m going to be much better. In Colorado I wasn’t even able to throw a slider. If you’re a sinker-slider guy with no slider in the big leagues, that’s a very tough mix.

“One of my teammates, Jalen Beeks, was teaching me curve balls between starts so I could try to get things going. I had some good games, but consistency is what makes you a big-leaguer or not. If I had a time-machine I definitely would swap places between then and now.”

Hudson has turned down “several” opportunities to go to teams in Mexico and make more money than he is making on the Monarchs because he doesn’t believe that would get him any closer to the majors.

“This is, and has been, an avenue for players to have success getting back to (MLB) affiliates,” said Joe Calfapietra, the longtime manager of the Monarchs. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed. Something has to open up. He just has to stay healthy and consistent.

“His command is really good, the movement on all of his pitches is getting sharper. I think he’s where he needs to be. He knows where he’s been more than I do.”

Calfapietra has been pleased with not only how Hudson has pitched, but by the way he has embraced a leadership role on the pitching staff and become a mentor to those who don’t have his level of success or track record.

“Off the field is really what he has meant to us in the clubhouse,” Calfapietra said. “What he brings to the table, his leadership, how he carries himself, it’s been tremendous.”

Calfapietra said he has seen players in a spot similar to Hudaon in their careers who struggled with playing independent baseball for the first time.

“You can get smothered up in the environment of ‘Oh my God this is my last opportunity’ and suffocate,” Calfapietra said. “Or you could embrace it and use it as, ‘This is where I am now’ and take it for what it’s worth.

“We’ve brought in guys like him, with similar resumes, but when they come in they get so consumed by what they are trying to do. Rightfully so, it’s their career, but Dakota has been able to still see the big picture. He wants to share his experience with some of the guys who haven’t touched that level.”

Hudson knows that he doesn’t have to be trying to make this comeback but he said if he didn’t try, he knows he would always wonder what might have happened.

“My career has gone all right,” Hudson said. “I think I could walk away from it if I wanted to but the dream has always been to hold my head high and walk out after 10 years (in the majors) like every player.

“I don’t know if I can say I’m happy (with his career) or not. I’ve always viewed my career as putting forth my best and I feel like I’ve done that every chance I’ve had. A lot of it hasn’t gone my way but I’ve had a lot go my way. I definitely feel blessed with the experiences I’ve had but I want to continue to see what else is in there and really empty the tank.

“If you play in high school and then play in college, you’re already playing with borrowed time. The fact I’ve got to play parts of seven years in the big leagues is a blessing, especially with the Cardinals and Rockies. I’ve met a lot of good people.”

Hudson knows, while he waits for the phone call that he hopes comes soon, he is about to experience the toughest part of pitching in this league – the travel.

He will get on a chartered bus on Friday morning with the rest of his teammates, heading out on a nine-game road trip that will take the Monarchs to Sioux City, Iowa; Winnipeg, Canada and Fargo, N.D. with only one day off.

“It’s definitely not the ‘Drive up to the terminal, hop on a plane and go,’” Hudson said of life in the majors. “It’s more like it was back in Double A. I sleep a ton on the bus.”

He also has a lot of time to dream.

“If a call comes, I want to be ready for it,” Hudson said. “I’m trying to stay present. There are a couple of more months left in the season. That’s all I’m focused on right now.”

Zimmerman, for one, knows what it would mean to Hudson to get that chance.

“He’s a competitor,” Zimmerman said. “You’ve been able to see that throughout his career. He works at it, he’s always trying to learn and get better. It would be refreshing to see him rewarded for it. He just needs the opportunity.”

Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains

Photos courtesy of the Kansas City Monarchs