SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Right-handed starting pitcher Dakota Hudson made a rare decision this winter to sign a free-agent contract with the Rockies.

The last starter to ink a Major League deal to come from elsewhere to pitch at Colorado’s altitude was Chad Kuhl in 2022. Before Hudson, Kuhl was the only starter to accept a Major League deal from the club since Bud Black took over as manager in 2017. José Ureña also signed with the team on an MLB contract as a starter in ‘23, but that was after signing a Minor League deal the previous year, earning his keep and wanting to continue.

Before Kuhl, the last starter from elsewhere to sign a Major League contract with the Rockies was Kyle Kendrick in 2015.

So it doesn’t happen often. Yet, Hudson doesn’t conflate being rare with expecting special treatment.

Hudson, 29, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the opportunity to double his salary based on innings pitched, went 38-20 with a 3.84 ERA in six seasons with the Cardinals and has two postseason starts on his resume. Still, Hudson found it refreshing that the Rockies announced him as a competitor for a rotation spot, rather than someone they were so happy to see that they just handed him a job.

“It’s process-oriented,” Hudson said. “It’s, ‘Get going and get after it.’ It’s competing, more than having a spot. It’s refreshing. It’s fun to have that extra competitive nature that drives us. And it’s good to look down the locker room and be able to root for the guys, because if we’re all going, we’re going to have a good season."

And, as Hudson showed during his 4 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts against three hits and one walk in Tuesday’s 8-8 tie with the Guardians, he came ready to learn and put the lessons into practice.

Hudson underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2020 on his throwing arm, but it wasn’t until a stint with the Cardinals at the end of last season that he became just a pitcher, rather than a rehabbing pitcher. So he needed help finding motions that would keep him healthy and allow him to perform well.

“They have a pitch lab here that I threw a couple of bullpens on, and it was about matching my stretch delivery with my windup,” Hudson said. “I did a few things to simplify my hits. There’s a little bit less movement and more direction. I’ve been able to really tighten things up and put everything over the plate more consistently.”

There have been blips. He entered Tuesday with a 6.75 ERA with six walks against five strikeouts in Spring Training. Hudson recalled feeling good after a bullpen, but saw poor results in a Minor League game last Thursday. On Tuesday, though, he and catcher Elias Díaz came with a plan, and stayed in sync when Guardians hitters tried to surprise them with their approach.

While they wanted to see Hudson compete for the spot, it has been clear all along the Rockies have plans for him. Black has described Hudson’s win-loss record as meaningful. Black pushes length from the starters, especially at home.

Black removed Hudson with 83 pitches (a number Hudson would like to stretch over a few more outs), but that was just as much to give lefty Jalen Beeks an opportunity to strand a baserunner.

“The fastball had good movement,” Black said. “The breaking ball was as good as we’ve seen all spring, and he had a couple good changeups. He got some ground balls, which is something we’re looking for out of him.”

Notes:

• Charlie Blackmon went 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Included was a fourth-inning solo shot, left on left, against the Guardians’ Anthony Banda.

“He’s getting the barrel out front and had some well-hit balls on the pull side -- the homer was well-struck on a fastball from the lefty,” Black said. “He’s doing his thing all around the strike zone.”

• Lefty starter Austin Gomber allowed eight runs, three on a Dylan Moore three-run home run, and 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings in Colorado's 12-3 road loss to the Mariners in Tuesday’s other split-squad game.

• Against the Guardians, righty Tyler Kinley pitched one-third of an inning, gave up his first three runs of the spring and walked two. Jake Bird yielded two runs on two hits with two walks in two-thirds of a frame and Nick Mears walked one and yielded the game-tying three-run homer to Chase DeLauter.