Starting job is possible — elsewhere
The thousands assembled at AT&T Park on Friday night might see a first. Since the Giants inaugurated the Willie Mac Award for their most inspirational player in 1980, no backup catcher has won. Nick Hundley could change that.
Hundley is a favorite for the honor, which is a big deal for fans and players. The winner will be announced before the Giants open their final series of the year against the Padres.
In a year that still could end with 100 losses, Hundley has been a beneficial presence on the field and within the clubhouse, which leads the Giants to a major Catch-22.
The Giants would love to re-sign Hundley, who will be their only significant free agent this winter, assuming Johnny Cueto elects to stay. But Hun-
dley has performed so well, and made such a leap defensively, he might have played himself into a bigger contract as an everyday catcher with a team that lacks a Buster Posey.
“I think he knows what we think about him,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s going to have some choices. He’s done a great job this year. “
For a mere $2 million in his first year with the Giants, Hundley has hit well enough to rank sixth on the team in doubles (23) and seventh in home runs (nine). He also has played in 99 games and started 63 behind the plate, far more than Bochy expected when the season began.
Many of those starts have come recently with Brandon Belt out and Bochy using Posey at first base more to save his legs in a lost season. This is temporary. Bochy expects Posey to start a “normal” number of games behind the plate next year. But if Hundley returns, Bochy would retain that valuable flexibility.
Hitting aside, Hundley raised his stock in 2017 with an improvement behind the plate that one rarely sees from a 34-yearold backup who walked in the door with nine years of majorleague experience.
Hundley has long worn a label as better standing at the plate with bat in hand than squatting behind it. But by all accounts, he put ego aside and let three catching coaches — Bill Hayes, Eli Whiteside and even Posey — school him in a craft.
“It’s a tribute to Nick,” Hayes said. “He’s a hard worker. He’s very well-prepared, so the adjustments he was able to make were a little bit easier than somebody who’d say, ‘Hey, I’ve got 10 years in the big-leagues. What are you telling me for?’ ”
Hayes confessed he was unsure in spring training how to approach such a tenured player about becoming a better catcher. Hayes’ first step was gaining Hundley’s trust.
“Once that was established, we knew there were some deficiencies in the throwing part and the receiving part, so that’s what we tried to sit down and address with him a little bit at a time,” Hayes said.
“He was very open. Whatever Whiteside and I see that he can improve on, that’s what he wants.” The results are not hard to see. Last year, Hundley threw out just 14 percent of potential base thieves. His reputation followed him to San Francisco. Teams ran like crazy in the beginning of 2017. He caught just four of the first 19 runners who tested him.
He has nailed 11 of 31 since then. His overall caught-stealing rate of 30 percent beats the league average (27 percent).
More subtly, Hundley has improved his pitch framing after working with coaches to limit his movement upon receiving the ball. Hundley and Whiteside perform a practice routine before every game that Hundley does not start.
“I just enjoy being coached and talking about the game and trying to improve,” Hundley said.” As soon as you stop improving, the game is going to pass you by.”
Hundley also said he often talks catching with Posey.
“I talk to him about a bunch of stuff,” he said. “I think we’ve gotten to the point where I know him well, and I think he knows me well, and I can bounce ideas off of him.
“I said in spring training he’s the best catcher in the game, but he’s also really approachable, which is a rare combination. I’ve definitely picked his brain. I think it would be foolish of me not to.”
Reporters have tried for weeks to pick Hundley’s brain about his satisfaction with his playing time and role, which could be a significant factor in his free-agent decision-making.
Hundley invariably responds coyly, with some variation of “come talk to me on the last day of the season.”
But he offered one hint that he would like to return in 2018, in the way he feels about his teammates and their prospects of sharing better days.
“This is a great group of guys, great competitors,” Hundley said. “It’s not fun to lose, but it’s fun being with this group, so I can only imagine how much better it would be if we were winning.”