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NEW YORK, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Pitchers Tim Hudson and Francisco Liriano were selected the recipients of their league's Comeback Player of the Year Awards, baseball officials said Tuesday. Hudson, a 35-year-old right-handed starter for the Atlanta Braves, was 17-9 this season with a 2.83 earned run average in helping the Braves capture the National League wild card playoff spot. The win total was the third highest of his career and best since 2001.
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He made only seven starts covering 42 1/3 innings in 2009 as he recovered from so-called Tommy John surgery. But in 2010 he pitched 228 2/3 innings, struck out 139 batters and held his opponents to a .229 batting average.
Liriano, 26, missed all of 2007 after Tommy John surgery and was limited to a total of 38 starts over 2008 and 2009. This season for the American League Central champion Minnesota Twins, however, the left-hander went 14-10 with a 3.62 ERA. He struck out 201 batters, fifth most in the American League.
His win total, starts (31), innings pitched (191 2/3) and strikeouts were all career highs.
The awards are determined by a vote of the 30 beat writers for mlb.com.
