Hudson Leaves Threshers to Pursue Football

Kyrell Hudson, photo- Jay Floyd

Multiple sources have confirmed that outfielder Kyrell Hudson has taken a leave of absence from the Phillies organization to pursue college football.

The speedy 22-year-old was selected by the Phils in 3rd round of the 2009 MLB amateur draft out of Evergreen High School (Washington state).  In parts of five seasons in the pro baseball ranks, Hudson tallied a .224 average with 34 doubles, five triples, three home runs, 66 RBI and 72 stolen bases.  Hudson played as high as Class A Advanced Clearwater, where he batted just .202 in 50 games this season.

Hudson is set to attend junior college in California to restart his career on the gridiron.  As a high schooler, Hudson played quarterback and was a kick returner.

The 6-foot-1 180-pounder was committed to Oregon State as a two-sport athlete out of high school before he signed with the Phillies.

Another Phils prospect, third baseman Travis Mattair, went on the retired list in 2010 in order to pursue his love of another sport, basketball.  At that time, Mattair spent the entire summer with the Boise State men’s hoops squad, but would inevitably return to the diamond and was scooped up from the Phillies by Cincinnati in the 2011 Rule 5 draft.

Of the Phillies' first 20 draft selections in 2009 just six players remain in the organization and only three of those, OF Kelly Dugan, RHP Brody Colvin and 1B/OF Darin Ruf, are playing above A level ball.