John Michael Hudgins is a former minor league pitcher who is most notable for winning the 2003 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award while a junior at Stanford University. He is one of three players from Stanford University to win the award. The other two are Lee Plemel and Paul Carey. In 2001 with Stanford, he went 1-5 with a 4.30 ERA. In 2002, he went 10-1 with a 4.71 ERA, and in 2003 he went 14-3 with a 2.99 ERA. He attended Mission Viejo High School prior to starring at Stanford University. Hudgins was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 20th round of the 2000 amateur draft, however he did not sign. In 2003, he was drafted in the third round by the Texas Rangers. He was signed by scout Tim Fortugno, and began his professional career that year. Playing for the Clinton LumberKings, he played in a single game in his debut professional season, striking out four batters in two innings. His professional career got rolling in 2004, as he split the season between the Stockton Ports, Oklahoma RedHawks and Frisco RoughRiders. He appeared in 30 total games, starting 25 of them and going 8-5 with a 3.14 ERA. [More at Wikipedia]

August 31st, 1981 in (Age 42)