Kristen Hudak

Senior Publicist@KristenESPN

Currently, I assist with strategic communications for ESPN’s MLB and NBA properties, as well as ESPN Corporate Outreach initiatives. I previously supported ESPN Ad Sales, Affiliate Sales, Marketing, Research and Digital teams from our New York office.

Prior to joining ESPN, I worked in digital strategy and online communications in Washington D.C., first with the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) and the Baltimore Orioles, and later with SB Nation. I also covered the Washington Nationals and visiting MLB clubs for MASNsports.com and MLB.com.

A Johnstown, Pa. native, I graduated from Mercyhurst College and earned my Master's degree from Catholic University. I cheer for the Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pitt Panthers and Mercyhurst Lakers.

Recent Posts

posted by on June 16, 2013 10:30 AM

Happy Father’s Day: ESPN MLB analyst Aaron Boone reflects on his family’s unique sports legacy

Aaron Boone (Allen Kee / ESPN Images)

Aaron Boone
(Allen Kee/ESPN Images)

Baseball Tonight and Monday Night Baseball analyst Aaron Boone is part of a very special legacy. Between his grandfather Ray, his father Bob, his brother Bret, and Aaron’s own career, the Boone tribe is one of only four three-generation Major League Baseball families and the only one to send a player from each generation to the All-Star Game.

Aaron joined ESPN as an analyst in 2010 but according to Bob, now assistant general manager of the Washington Nationals, that career was in the works from a very young age. continue reading…

Filed in: MLBonESPN

posted by on June 6, 2013 6:21 PM

Storifed!: ABC’s coverage of Game 1 of The NBA Finals

Join the Front Row team as it offers a second screen experience through Storify to go with ABC’s coverage of Game 1 of The NBA Finals.

Things kickoff with tonight’s KIA NBA Countdown (8:30 p.m. ET) on site from Miami and continue with Game 1 (9 p.m. on ABC, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN & ESPN International).

Join in and/or track the social conversation around The Finals. continue reading…

Filed in: Storified!

posted by on June 6, 2013 9:10 AM

ABC’s NBA Finals to feature new open and unparalleled production elements

Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen (Scott Clarke / ESPN Images)

For the seventh consecutive year, play-by-play voice Mike Breen (right) will provide NBA Finals commentary with analyst Jeff Van Gundy. (Scott Clarke/ESPN Images)

Tonight, the NBA Finals will begin exclusively on ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, ESPN3 and WatchESPN (8:30 p.m. ET, NBA KIA Countdown; 9 p.m. game) when the San Antonio Spurs visit the defending champion Miami Heat. Tim Corrigan, ESPN senior coordinating producer, and his team will produce each of The Finals telecasts.

Looking ahead to his sixth production of The Finals, Corrigan spoke to Front Row about various elements including the new broadcast open; the scale of producing the event; and how his team will incorporate the local flavors of Miami and San Antonio during the best-of-seven series.

What can viewers expect to see this year in terms of production elements? continue reading…

Filed in: 2013 NBA Finals, NBAOnESPN

posted by on May 31, 2013 3:15 PM

Former participants in Red Sox/Yankees rivalry revel in Sunday Night Baseball’s matchup

(L-R) Boston's Jonny Gomes tried to avoid the tag of New York's Francisco Cervelli in a game earlier this season. (Allen Kee / ESPN Images)

Boston’s Jonny Gomes slides past New York’s Francisco Cervelli. (Allen Kee/ESPN Images)

Nomar Garciaparra

ESPN’s analyst Nomar Garciaparra spent a near-decade with the Red Sox. (Scott Clarke/ESPN Images)

This weekend, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox renew their historic rivalry on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball (8 p.m. ET). The Red Sox enter with a two-game lead on the rival Yankees in the tight AL East. Of course, any discussion about Boston’s storied rivalry with New York would be incomplete without mentioning ESPN MLB analyst Aaron Boone and his unforgettable home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. Boone, who was traded to the Yankees in 2003, spent just a half season with the Yankees but made a lasting impact on the rivalry.

ESPN MLB analyst Nomar Garciaparra made his debut with the Red Sox in 1996 and played a central role in the rivalry during a near-decade with the club through 2004. Additionally, MLB analyst Alex Cora spent four seasons with the Red Sox and won a championship with the franchise in 2007. This week, Boone, Garciaparra, Cora and other ESPN MLB commentators shared some of their favorite memories of the rivalry. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, MLBonESPN

posted by on May 16, 2013 4:30 PM

Point, Counterpoint: NBA analysts Chris Mullin, Bruce Bowen preview tonight’s Spurs-Warriors Game 6

ESPN's NBA analysts Chris Mullin (L) and Bruce Bowen (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s Chris Mullin (L) and Bruce Bowen (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s NBA Playoffs coverage continues tonight (10:30 p.m. ET) with Game 6 of the San Antonio Spurs-Golden State Warriors Western Conference Semifinals series. With the Spurs up 3-2 in the series, the host Warriors must win tonight to force Game 7. ESPN analyst, Basketball Hall of Famer and Warriors legend Chris Mullin will be courtside to provide commentary for ESPN Radio. As a player, Mullin led the Warriors to five playoff appearances between 1987 and 1994.

This week, he joined colleague and ESPN NBA analyst Bruce Bowen, whose extraordinary defense helped lead the Spurs to three championships between 2003 and 2007, to preview the Game 6 showdown in Oakland, Calif. Despite the storied history that both men have with their respective teams, Mullin and Bowen said they have no trouble remaining impartial as analysts. continue reading…

Filed in: NBAOnESPN

posted by on April 18, 2013 8:00 AM

You asked, Hannah Storm answered: #HannahFacetoFace

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) spent 30 minutes on Twitter answering fan questions regarding the fifth installment of Face to Face with Hannah Storm, which includes in-depth interviews with elite NBA point guards. Using the hashtag #HannahFacetoFace, the SportsCenter anchor interacted with fans about her interviews with Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul and Steve Nash. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes

posted by on April 10, 2013 4:55 PM

Front & Center: Manny Acta

ESPN's Manny Acta on the set of Baseball Tonight. (Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s Manny Acta on the set of Baseball Tonight.
(Joe Faraoni/ESPN Images)

Click HERE to listen or visit iTunes to download the podcast and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Front & Center podcast. Also, make sure to check out the ESPN Radio app, available for the iPad.

Just as a new season of Major League Baseball begins, Front Row caught up with former big league skipper Manny Acta, who joined the roster of Baseball Tonight and Baseball Esta Noche as an ESPN analyst earlier this spring.

Prior to joining ESPN, Acta served as manager of the Cleveland Indians for three seasons. He began his big league managerial career with the Washington Nationals in 2006. Then 37, Acta was the youngest active manager in Major League Baseball. -

Filed in: Front & Center, Podcast

posted by on March 18, 2013 12:00 PM

ESPN’s Karl Ravech and John Kruk co-star with ‘Snake Eyes’ and cold hot dogs in promo for GI Joe: Retaliation

Karl Ravech, celebrating his 20th anniversary with ESPN this year, has participated in countless commercials and promos for This is SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight and a variety of special projects. continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, MLBonESPN

posted by on March 6, 2013 4:00 PM

NBA Lockdown podcast features former NBA star Bruce Bowen and ESPN.com writer Israel Gutierrez

ESPN's Bruce Bowen during the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. (Travis Bell/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s Bruce Bowen during the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. (Travis Bell/ESPN Images)

ESPN analyst Bruce Bowen is busy this season.

Not only did he participate in the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game during All-Star Weekend, but he regularly shares his NBA insights on SportsCenter and a variety of ESPN studio shows. This year, he also added a popular new podcast called NBA Lockdown, which he hosts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with ESPN.com writer Israel Gutierrez.

Bowen and Gutierrez spent a few minutes chatting with Front Row about what listeners can expect on NBA Lockdown.

What makes your podcast unique?
B.B.: Honestly, I think it’s the take from two different worlds. We have two different people with strong opinions: a journalist and a champion insider. I’m not one to toot my own horn, but it’s not often that you are going to get the depth and detail from a champion who has been around great coaches and players. Plus, I’ve always respected Israel for his craft. He has strong opinions about what he feels and I do, too. I think that allows us to have the chemistry we have and the respect we have for one another.

Israel Gutierrez

Israel Gutierrez

I.G.: Bruce and I go back to the 2000-01 NBA season, which was my first year covering an NBA basketball team, the Miami Heat. We got along great then, we’ve kept in touch over the years, and we get along great now. That means we’re not afraid to attack each other — respectfully, of course. Bruce made a career of being an elite defender, and I happen to love offense. He’s a Spur for life, I’m supposedly a Spurs “hater.” It’s classic Odd Couple stuff, and it makes for some interesting exchanges.

What kind of preparation does the podcast require? continue reading…

Filed in: Behind The Scenes, NBAOnESPN

posted by on February 15, 2013 4:01 PM

Bruce Bowen looking for ESPN colleague Ryen Russillo, Kevin Hart in NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

ESPN’s Bruce Bowen
(Joe Faraoni / ESPN Images)

On Friday, ESPN will present the star-studded and always amusing Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at 7 p.m. ET from Houston, Texas.

Two ESPN commentators will be represented on the rosters — Ryen Russillo of ESPN Radio’s SVP & Russillo and ESPN NBA analyst Bruce Bowen, who is also host of the NBA Lockdown podcast.

Thursday, Front Row published Russillo’s forecast for his Celebrity Game debut. Today, we chat with Bowen — who was voted to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team eight of his nine seasons with the San Antonio Spurs — to learn a little more about his strategy and predictions for the Celebrity Game.

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First, let’s talk about your coach — [Oklahoma Thunder star] Russell Westbrook — and your own roster.
Russell is a tough guy. He’s going to do well with players that have “it.” Like Usain Bolt — he has “it.” Bruce Bowen has “it.” Tamika Catchings has “it.” You know, I mess with Russ all the time. I think he needs to work on his celebratory dances. Being from California, he doesn’t represent California well with celebratory dances. And you have to give it to [assistant coach] Queen [Latifah] – she got it. [Bowen sings . . .] The Queen means business.

What about Usain Bolt?
You know how Dwyane [Wade] throws that long pass to LeBron [James]? That’s what I want to do with Usain. It shouldn’t take him long to get it. He’s the fastest man in the world. I also want to do his signature points to the sky. That’s what I’m going to do my first basket. That’s for him.

What’s your defensive strategy against your opponents? continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements