Hedlund was born in Dallas, Texas, and signed as an amateur free agent with the Cleveland Indians upon graduation from Arlington High School in 1964. He was just eighteen years old when he made his major league debut on May 8, 1965 against the Boston Red Sox.[1] He appeared in just six games, and pitched a total of 5.1 innings before returning to the minors.
Hedlund went 3–6 with a 3.24 earned run average during the Royals' inaugural season. Used as both a starter and relief pitcher, he was far more effective out of the bullpen, posting a 1.69 ERA and earning two saves. His finest start came on September 18 when he held the Oakland Athletics to just one run, and struck out eight to earn the complete game victory.[2]
Hedlund began the 1970 in the majors, but was ineffective, and was reassigned to the triple A Omaha Royals. In 1971, the Royals boasted one of the most talented young starting rotations in the majors with Hedlund, Dick Drago and Paul Splittorff all under 27 years old. After narrowly avoiding one hundred losses in 1970, the Royals improved to 85–76, in 1971 to finish second in the American League West. For his part, Hedlund rebounded to go 15–8 in with the league's fourth best ERA, 2.71. After the season, Hedlund traveled to Vietnam with a group of Major League ballplayers on a tour of hospitals and military bases.[4]
Hedlund started 1972 in the Royals' rotation, but after starting the season 0–5, was moved into the bullpen. He improved considerably at that point; winning his next four starts when used by managerBob Lemon as a spot starter. At the 1972 Winter meetings he was traded back to the Cleveland Indians for utilityinfielderKurt Bevacqua.[5]
Minor leagues
The Indians intended to use Hedlund as a long reliever and spot starter, but he failed to make the club out of Spring training. He spent the entire 1973 season with the triple A Oklahoma City 89ers, going 7–8 with a 4.44 ERA. The following Spring, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for minor league outfielderKen Hottman. Despite a respectable 2.90 ERA, Hedlund was 5–8 in 1974 for the Iowa Oaks. He was traded again after the season, this time to the Cincinnati Reds for Dan Osborn, but never played a game with them at any level.
