Nick Hundley doesn't mind his backup role on the San Francisco Giants. He'll keep grinding, anyway.ย
The former Arizona Wildcat finished 4 for 5 in San Francisco on Wednesday, with an opposite-field home run and three RBIs in the Giants' 9-4 victory over the San Diego Padres. Hundley had a single, two doubles and a homer, leaving him a triple shy of the cycle.
His four hits tied a career high.
Hundley might see more time than your average backup catcher, even with 2012 NL MVP Buster Posey behind the plate most days. The Giants often slide Posey over to first base to give slugger Brandon Belt a rest or Posey a break from the squat.
Hundley, a former All-American at the UA, has been making the most of it.
"Honestly, I just treat it like I'm playing every day," Hundley told NBC Sports Bay Area after Wednesday's win. "Obviously Buster, he's gonna play, he's the best catcher in the world. I'm really thankful to play with him and behind him because I get to pick his brain and watch him play. I've gotten a lot better just based on watching him up close and seeing how he does it and then just treating every day like I'm just trying to get better and betterย whetherย I'm playing or not."
Stay hot, Hundley ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
โ SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 2, 2018
His 3rd HR of the season | 3rd hit & 3rd RBI of the game pic.twitter.com/5DlbQ2mRnu
Hundley hit 8 for 15 with two home runs and seven RBIs during San Francisco's 10-game homestand, which wrapped up with a series win Wednesday. He made three starts at catcher and two appearances to pinch hit, including in the bottom of the ninth Monday night with the bases loaded in Game 1 against San Diego.
One of the Giants' best bats off the bench, Hundley delivered a two-out, bases-loaded single that knocked in two runs and won the game 6-5. Those are the situations where most backup catchers aren't comfortable. But Hundley knew exactly what was coming โ literally โ and payed homage to his alma mater.
"That's that quick University of Arizona math on my part," Hundley said after the walk-off hit. "I knew if I came up, it's two outs and bases loaded if the game isn't tied. That was my mindset, to get ready for a two-out, bases-loaded situation."
Nick Hundley had to use some "Arizona Math" before his walkoff ๐๐ pic.twitter.com/M7o48xIlUt
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 1, 2018
The Giants re-signed the 11th-year veteran to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in the offseason after Hundley appeared in 101 games, started 65 at catcher and had 32 extra-base hits a season ago. He also threw out 26.5 percent of potential base stealers and won the club's Willie Mac Award, given annually to the most inspirational player.
Hundley is hitting .268 in 17 games and 10 starts this season, which would be his highest batting average since he hit a career-best .301 with the Rockies in 2015. He has three home runs, nine RBIs, seven extra-base hits and owns a .609 slugging percentage.
