5 St. Louis Cardinals Who Will Breakout in 2022

May 2, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Dylan Carlson (3) warms up before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Dylan Carlson (3) warms up before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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JUPITER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 22: Dakota Hudson #43 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the third inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 22: Dakota Hudson #43 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the third inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Dakota Hudson

After finishing 5th in Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 with a record of 16-7 and ERA of 3.35, Dakota Hudson had season ending Tommy John surgery in 2020 that mostly kept him out of the 2021 season. Hudson had started off the shortened 2020 season with an ERA of 2.77 and was looking to rise to one of the better starters in all of baseball.

Over 18 months removed from his surgery, Hudson is primed to return to the mound with the same rise he was on before his elbow injury. The 27 year old could be the key to this Cardinal rotation being more than just cross your fingers and hope for the best. Hudson has the potential to be a legit number two starter, and with the return of a healthy Jack Flaherty, could make an elite trio with him and Adam Wainwright.

The Cardinals defense has also developed into far and away the best in baseball since Hudson’s injury, meaning he will now also benefit from elite run saving skills behind him. Look for Hudson to breakout in a big way in his first full season back in St. Louis.

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