Orioles release Hudson

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

January 23, 2012, 8:56am

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I won't file this one under "breaking news," but the Orioles have released outfielder Kyle Hudson. Hudson, 25, was designated for assignment to make room for left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. He couldn't be placed on waivers and outrighted to the minors before March because he was "draft excluded" due to the date that the Orioles purchased his contract from Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles had to trade or release Hudson. They can attempt to re-sign him, but he won't be able to play for them before May 15. Hudson, a fourth-round pick in the 2008 draft out of Illinois, 25, climbed from Single-A Frederick to the majors last season and hit a combined .296/.375/.336 in 119 games at three minor league levels. He batted .143 (4-for-28) in 14 games with the Orioles, and will mostly be remembered for scoring the tying run on Nolan Reimold's ground-rule double off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning of the final regular-season game on Sept. 28. I'm joining Amber Theoharis today for "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report" that airs from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. on MASN. I'm sure we'll discuss the latest round of Prince Fielder rumors.