SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 24: Tim Hudson #17 of the San Francisco Giants reacts in the second inning while taking on the Kansas City Royals during Game Three of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park on October 24, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Tim Hudson was forced to leave his outing prematurely on Monday due to an injury, but instead of lamenting the fact he couldn't go deep into one of the final starts of his career, he embraced his forthcoming exit from the sport he loves.
Despite giving up one earned run on three hits, Hudson was pulled early from his start on Monday after 4 1/3 innings in the Giants' 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds with discomfort in his hip, an ailment that he's grown all too accustomed to in the latter stages of his 17-year career.
"It's just old," he said of the hip. "I got that old, tricky hip. That's just what it is."
After confirming his intentions to retire last week, Hudson only has a handful of starts remaining in his career.
The 40-year-old righty is confident he'll bounce back with some treatment from the training staff and anti-inflammatory medicine in time to make his next start, likely the third-to-last in his major-league career.
As the sun sets on his successful career, in which he's posted a 221-132 record with a 3.49 ERA in 3,117 innings over 479 games, Hudson is embracing his retirement.
"I see the finish line," he said. "I see it coming. It's fine ... come on. I'm ready for it."
(h/t CSN Bay Area)
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