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Hudson started the 2003 season as our second baseman. He didn't have a great year, hitting .268/.328/.395 with 9 home runs and 57 RBI. He mostly hit at the back of the order. His defense was a work in progress, he wasn't great with the glove right away. Fangraphs credited him with a 0.7 UZR/150.
In 2004 Orlando started putting everything together, hitting .270/.341/.438 with 12 home runs, 58 RBI and 73 runs in 135 games. His defense improved to, Fangraphs had him at a 16.5 UZR/105. It was his best year with the Jays, Fangraphs had him at a 3.9 WAR. He missed 20 games with a hamstring injury.
He had another good season in 2005, hitting .271/.315/.412 with 10 home runs and 63 RBI. He got his first Gold Glove that year.
After the season he was traded with Miguel Batista to the Diamondbacks for Troy Glaus and Sergio Santo. He played there for 3 seasons then signed with the Dodgers as a free agent before the 2009 season. The Dodgers made the playoffs but put Ronnie Belliard at second for the playoffs. They lost in the NLCS to the Phillies. In the off-season he signed, as a free agent, with the Twins, so Orlando got to the playoffs again, this time playing second, but they lost out to the Yankees in the ALDS. Last year he played with the Padres.
Since leaving the Blue Jays he has played on 2 All-Star teams and has won 3 more Gold Gloves. He's always been an ok hitter but most of his value comes from his defense. Brian Butterfield gets and deserves a lot of credit for his defensive ability, he spent a lot of time working with Orlando. Orlando has great range and makes highlight reel plays almost daily. He's as good of a defensive player as we have ever had at second, depending on your view of Roberto Alomar's glove.
Orlando is married and has a son and a daughter. He started a charity called C.A.T.C.H. that raises money that "enables children with autism to enjoy a normal active life through the funding of outlets for proper therapy, education, and extracurricular activities". He also made some news in 2010 by suggesting that there was racism against blacks in MLB, saying that Jermaine Dye and Gary Sheffield couldn't get jobs because of it.
Orlando Hudson's place among Blue Jay batting leaders:
Batting Average (>1500 PA): 19th, 270
OBP (>1500 PA): 26th, .328
Slugging average (> 1500 PA): 27th, 418.
Games Played: 41st, 462
Runs Score: 41st, 209
Triples: 15th, 23