| Rex Hudler | |
|---|---|
 Hudler with theNashville Sounds in 1982 | |
| Utility player | |
| Born: (1960-09-02)September 2, 1960 (age 64) Tempe, Arizona, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: September 9, 1984, for the New York Yankees | |
| NPB: April 10, 1993, for the Yakult Swallows | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: June 23, 1998, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| NPB: November 1, 1993, for the Yakult Swallows | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .261 |
| Home runs | 56 |
| Runs batted in | 169 |
| Stolen bases | 107 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .300 |
| Home runs | 14 |
| Runs batted in | 64 |
| Stolen bases | 1 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Rex Allen Hudler (born September 2, 1960) is an American formerMajor League Baseballutility player and color commentator for theKansas City Royals. He played a total of 14 seasons after being a first round draft pick of theNew York Yankees in 1978.[1]
Hudler played for six differentMajor League Baseball teams, and at every position except pitcher and catcher throughout his career: theNew York Yankees (1984–1985),Baltimore Orioles (1986),Montreal Expos (1988–1990),St. Louis Cardinals (1990–1992),California Angels (1994–1996), andPhiladelphia Phillies (1997–1998).[1] After batting .250 with theColumbus Clippers and .157 in 20 games with theYankees, he was traded along withRich Bordi to theOrioles forGary Roenicke on December 11, 1985 in a transaction that was completed five days later on December 16 whenLeo Hernández was also sent to New York.[2][3] He also played for theYakult Swallows of theJapaneseCentral League in 1993, contributing to the team'sJapan Series championship.[4]
A 1978 graduate ofBullard High School (Fresno, California), Hudler played baseball, soccer and football, earning first-team All-America honors as a wide receiver. Prior to signing with the Yankees, Hudler was visited byNotre Dame, which hoped that he would suit up for their football team.[citation needed]
Hudler saw playing time in the minor leagues with theRochester Red Wings of the Triple-AInternational League in 1986 and 1987. He then saw playing time with the Triple-AIndianapolis Indians of theAmerican Association in 1988 as the startingthird baseman. He retired from professional baseball following his final appearance with theBuffalo Bisons on July 16, 1998.[5][6]
Hudler was nicknamed "Bug-Eater" during his time in St. Louis. During a game, he picked an enormousJune bug off his cap. Cardinals teammateTom Pagnozzi dared him to eat it. His teammates collectively offered him $800 to eat the bug, which he accepted.[7]
Hudler was a 1999 inductee into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.
From 1999 through the 2009 season,[8] Hudler was thecolor commentator for theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim radio and television broadcasting team, alongsideplay-by-play announcersSteve Physioc,Rory Markas, andTerry Smith. He is also the color commentator for thePlayStation 2 andPlayStation Portable gamesMLB 06: The Show,07,08,09,10, and11 and is also featured in10 for thePlayStation 3 along withDave Campbell andMatt Vasgersian. For the 2011 edition on the PlayStation 3, he was replaced byEric Karros. He also provided color commentary, with ESPN'sJon Miller on play-by-play, for the 2004Xbox and PlayStation 2 titleESPN Major League Baseball.
Hudler was suspended briefly from his broadcast job in 2003 after being arrested atKansas City International Airport for possession ofcannabis and medical paraphernalia.[9]
In November 2009 the Angels andFSN West announced they would not renew the contracts of Hudler and Physioc for the 2010 season.[10]
In October 2010, Hudler hostedThe Wonder Dog Hour on Angels flagship stationKLAA, 830 AM inOrange, California.[citation needed]
On February 13, 2012, he was announced as the new television color commentator for theKansas City Royals, teaming up withRyan Lefebvre and his old partnerSteve Physioc.[11]
Hudler was hospitalized in 2001 with abrain aneurysm.[12]
| International | |
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| National | |