The five percent watch is on for Tim Hudson as the Oakland A’s pitcher is hoping to get another year on the ballot.
Last year, Hudson was barely able to surpass the 5% threshold to remain on the ballot. He received 21 votes for the Hall of Fame, pushing him just beyond the 20 votes needed to get a second year. However, his start to the 2022 voting cycle did not look promising, as he failed to get a single vote on most of the early ballots. Even more distressing, Hudson had lost a vote, something that he could not afford.
Tim Hudson back over 5% threshold for Hall of Fame
Fortunately, the votes are starting to come in. Hudson has received four votes on 72 publically announced ballots, presently putting him at 5.6%. He even gained a vote, making up for the vote he lost earlier in the cycle.
At this point, Hudson can only hope that the voters take a closer look at his career. He is not going to rack up any more wins or strikeouts; if he toes the rubber again, it will be for a ceremonial first pitch. But that does not mean that the voters cannot change their minds, looking at Hudson and seeing a solid major leaguer who deserves more than just a passing glance on the ballot.
Hudson just needs to keep surviving. If he can remain on the ballot and continue gaining votes, then it may no longer be a question of whether or not he can reach that 5% mark. After all, Scott Rolen received just 10.2% of the vote in his first year on the ballot and now seems on his way to being inducted into the Hall in the near future.
Tim Hudson is starting to get some traction for the Hall of Fame. He has finally surpassed the 5% mark to get another look in 2023.