Tim Hudson to Miss First Month of Season

Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson told reporters that he’s expected to miss the first month of the 2012 season due to back surgery he underwent last November.  Hudson’s surgery focused on one of the disks in his back, and the estimated recovery time of the procedure is three to six months.  While the Braves initially thought their right-hander could be ready for the start of Spring Training, it appears Hudson will need additional time to recover fully.

Despite what Atlanta had led some to believe, Hudson said yesterday that “getting back for the start of the season was never really a possibility”.  Hudson said the Braves were looking at it more from a “timeline standpoint”, but that five months puts him at May 1.

While it’s never good to have one of your best pitchers out for the start of the season, Hudson did say that he’s feeling much better than in previous years.  Over the past two or three years, Hudson compared his mobility to that of Fred Sanford.  The pain caused by Hudson’s back could be felt during routine daily events; situations as simple as tying his shoes.

But now Hudson’s repaired back has him feeling that he can play for a “really long time”.

With Hudson set to start the season on the sidelines, the Braves will turn to their well-known pitching depth to fill in for the three-time All-Star.  Atlanta has several young options such as Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado, or the Braves could look to Kris Medlen who’s pitched as a starter and out of the ‘pen during his time in the majors.

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