something’s missing

Dakota Hudson, the former Mississippi State star, is going back to the minors to search for the lost velocity on his fastball. St. Louis optioned Hudson to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday. The right-hander had a 6.23 ERA in three Grapefruit League appearances, including a particularly rough start against the New York Mets on Sunday. He faced nine batters in the first inning, six reached and five scored. He wound up going 3 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and two walks. Hudson was 8-7, 4.45 ERA, in 26 starts for the Cards in 2022 and is 32-17, 3.61, since getting his first call-up in 2018. He missed a big chunk of the 2021 season after arm surgery and has experienced a notable dip in velocity. The Cardinals reportedly want the former first-round pick to work on some mechanical things at Memphis. Manager Oliver Marmol told mlb.com that Hudson “took it well,” referring to the demotion.