Braves and Pitcher Tim Hudson Agree to Terms on Contract Extension

Atlanta Braves Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren announced today that the Club has agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Tim Hudson on a three-year contract extension through 2012, with a Club option for 2013. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.

Hudson, 34, returned from “Tommy John” surgery in 2009, his fifth season with Atlanta, and posted a 2-1 record with a 3.61 ERA in seven starts.

Despite missing the last two months of the 2008 season and the first five months of the 2009 campaign, Hudson ranked as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball for the “2000s” decade. He tied for fifth in all of baseball with 137 wins from 2000 to 2009, and ranked third with a 3.50 ERA (minimum 1,850 innings pitched) and eighth in innings pitched (1,923.1).

“We are excited to have Tim back as a big part of our club the next three years,” said Wren. “As we maintain the strength of our team, which is the starting pitching, Tim provides veteran leadership that is invaluable to our young pitchers.”

Hudson has never had a losing season as a professional pitcher. He owns a career record of 148-78 and his .655 winning percentage ranks 12th in Major League history among pitchers with at least 200 career decisions, and ranks fourth among all active pitchers, behind Pedro Martinez (219-100, .687), Roy Oswalt (137-70, .662) and Roy Halladay (148-76, .661).

Over the course of his career, Hudson has posted an amazing 121-5 record in games in which he received support of four or more runs and he owns a career record of 106-2 when given a lead of three or more runs.

Hudson has pitched seven or more innings in 173 of his 310 (56%) career starts. His ratio of just .72 home runs allowed per nine innings pitched ranks third among all active pitchers, behind Mariano Rivera (.50) and Brandon Webb (.63).

Source: Atlanta Braves/ Major League Baseball

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