STARKVILLE — Dakota Hudson has every right to throw a huge party to celebrate his future.
The Mississippi State baseball junior right-handed pitcher could rent out a room and have catered food for friends, family, teammates and coaches. He could have champagne to pop after he hears his name called in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft today. But that’s not Hudson’s style.
Instead, he will be in a hotel room in Starkville with his family watching quietly as his future unfolds.
“I guarantee you I’ll have a grin ear to ear,” Hudson said. “But I don’t know what to expect, honestly.”
It will be an exciting time, but Hudson won’t have much time to reflect on it because he has postseason baseball to get ready for. Hudson and No. 6 national seed and fourth-ranked MSU (44-16-1) plays host to Arizona (42-21) 5 p.m. Friday (ESPN2) and 5 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU) at Dudy Noble Field in the best-of-three Starkville Super Regional. An if-necessary third game will be played 5 p.m. Sunday (ESPN2 or ESPNU).
The first two rounds, including two lottery rounds consisting of six picks each, will take place at 6 p.m. today (MLB Network and MLB.com). Hudson is expected to go in the first round. The third round begins at noon Friday (MLB.com) and ends with the 10th round. The 11th round starts at 11 a.m. Saturday (MLB.com) and finishes with the final round (40th).
Hudson isn’t all that emotional and that has been seen on the mound. Even after collecting big win and after big win, he has the same demeanor as he would in a loss. He tries to keep his emotions in check and stay out of the spotlight.
Teammate Austin Sexton has seen that. But he knows how much Hudson is relishing the draft because of the struggles he endured as a freshman and sophomore.
“He’s put in a lot of work,” Sexton said. “The failures that me and him have both gone through since we’ve been here together, for this season to shape out the way it is and for him with the draft, it’s such a big deal. I’m so proud of him.”
Hudson started his freshman campaign as a starter, but drew five starts before making one appearance out of the bullpen. He went 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA. He was used out of the bullpen last season and pitched well down the stretch, but the Bulldogs missed the postseason. As a sophomore, Hudson went 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 17 appearances.
The Dunlap, Tennessee, native has been cool, calm and collective this season and that has led to him surging to the top of draft boards. He has thrived under new pitching coach Wes Johnson’s philosophy and didn’t hesitate taking over the ace role. The first team All-Southeastern Conference selection is 9-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 16 starts. He has struck out 109 in 106 2/3 innings. He earned All-American honors by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America. He is also a semifinalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, given to the best amateur baseball player in the country.
“It’s just a lot that kind of runs through your head,” Hudson said. “You see what you’ve gone through in the past or all the experiences you’ve had in college and it’s just another opportunity for you to go on.”
Hudson said he has talked to a handful of scouts and doesn’t have any idea where he will go or when he’ll be taken. CBSSports.com projects Hudson to go 10th overall to the Chicago White Sox.
MSU coach John Cohen has never been too thrilled with the draft being right in the middle of the postseason. But he does recall Hunter Renfroe and Adam Frazier being “relieved” after being drafted in 2013. Renfroe was selected 13th overall by the San Diego Padres and Frazier was taken with the 179th overall pick (sixth round) by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Renfroe and Frazier helped MSU beat Virginia in the Charlottesville Super Regional shortly after being drafted to earn a spot in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. MSU finished as the national runner-up to UCLA.
“You can put a lot of pressure on yourself, but you have to block it out,” Cohen said. “When the whole world is sending you text messages and tweeting at you, it is hard for those kids to block it out.”
Cohen hopes Hudson follows in the steps of Renfroe and Frazier and is relaxed after getting the draft behind him. Cohen hasn’t announced a starting rotation, but Hudson, who has struggled in his last two outings, will get one of the starts.
This won’t be Hudson’s first experience with the draft. He was taken in the 36th round of the 2013 draft out of high school. He turned down the opportunity to turn professional and decided to come to MSU where he could develop.
“Once I got here my body matured,” Hudson said. “I’ve gained 35 pounds since freshman year. But mentally and physically I feel like I’m a complete ballplayer now.”
Although Hudson doesn’t want to have a celebration to end all celebrations, he hopes to grab a bite to eat with Sexton and a couple of other teammates after being drafted. Sexton, who is hoping to get drafted, has joked with Hudson about the biggest concern in the draft for Hudson is “how many millions he is going to make.” Sexton is hopeful that Hudson will pick up the tab this time.
“I still won’t have any money until after (a contract is signed),” Hudson joked.
n In other baseball news, Cohen is optimistic to have junior left fielder/ right-handed pitcher Reid Humphreys (right hand) for this weekend.
“It’s probably going to be a game time decision. Because with hitting, that’s a feel thing,” Cohen said. “Thank goodness were not in February and looking at 38 degrees because that really makes it difficult with the hand. You’re looking at 97 degrees potentially on Friday.”
Humphreys took a pitch off his right hand Sunday against Louisiana Tech. He left shortly after. He got an X-ray Monday and Cohen said Humphreys’ hand was not broken.
n Jake Mangum was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American team by Collegiate Baseball.
The SEC Freshman of the Year, was named to the All-America third team by Baseball America Tuesday. He won the 2016 C Spire Ferriss Trophy, given to the top collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi.
Mangum is tops in the SEC and fourth in the country with a .418 batting average.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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