Orioles hire Hudak as PR director, plus other notes (updated)

The Orioles have hired Kristen Hudak, a former MASN and ESPN employee, as their new public relations director.

Hudak, who spent the past 3 1/2 years at ESPN, will oversee the public relations department, including corporate communications, media relations, online communications, photography and team publications. She will begin her duties on Dec. 29, reporting directly to Greg Bader, the Orioles vice president of communications and marketing.

As a senior publicist at ESPN, Hudak generated publicity for the network's Major League Baseball coverage, including "Sunday Night Baseball," "Baseball Tonight" and the Home Run Derby, as well as NBA, Little League World Series and corporate outreach initiatives. She previously planned and executed award-winning communications strategies for ESPN's affiliate sales and marketing, customer marketing and sales, research and digital media teams.

Hudak began her career with the public relations firm WebStrong Group in Alexandria, Va., working with MASN in its infancy to build brand awareness and strengthen its reach throughout the region. She also wrote for MASNsports.com, covering the Nationals for three seasons.

Hudak received her bachelor's degree in political science from Mercyhurst University and her master's degree in politics from the Catholic University of America.

Public relations director Monica Barlow passed away in February after a 4 1/2-year battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. Media relations director Jeff Lantz took a job this month as director of communications for Minor League Baseball in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Major League Baseball's auction to benefit the LUNGevity Foundation in honor of Barlow raised more than $175,000. The auctions raised a total of approximately $250,000 over the past two years.

In other news, the Orioles aren't expected to enter the bidding for Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang, who was posted today. However, they've signed Cuban outfielder Elier Leyva, according to a team official.

Leyva, 24, defected from Cuba last year after playing for the Provincial of Holguin in the Cuban National Series and established residency in the Dominican Republic.

You can watch video of Leyva here and here.

The Orioles have been active in the Cuban market. Outfielder Dariel Alvarez rates as one of their top position prospects and outfielder Henry Urrutia remains on the 40-man roster and could return to the majors next season. They also signed right-hander Lazaro Leyva in September.

Bovada lists the odds of the Orioles winning the 2015 World Series at 18/1. The odds were 20/1 in October.

The Dodgers remain a 15/2 favorite.

Update: Leyva, who's listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, is expected to begin the 2015 season at Single-A Frederick after agreeing to a $180,000 signing bonus.

Leyva has plus-power and is a plus-fielder. He's rated as having average arm strength and speed.

Leyva is drawing comparisons to Alvarez.