Nick Hundley

Last year marked a third straight season of offensive regression for the veteran backstop, as he saw his batting average slump to .244 after hitting .260 and .301 in 2016 and 2015, respectively. He still has some of the pop that made him a serviceable backstop in years past, but that came with an unsightly 26.7 percent strikeout rate and a career-worst 4.0 percent walk rate. Injuries to Buster Posey and Brandon Belt allowed Hundley to play in 101 games last year despite entering the season as the Giants' backup, and while a repeat is unlikely, something close is possible after he re-signed with San Francisco. As the 34-year-old enters the latter stages of his career, he likely won't find value outside of deeper, two-catcher formats, though he could prove to be a decent DFS play thanks to his respectable splits against lefties in 2017 (.305 average with four homers in 55 games).

Just one season removed from a season in which he hit .301, Hundley's production at the plate diminished a bit. The extra-base hits were still present, as he put up the same number of home runs and only one fewer double from 2015, but his batting average sunk to .260 and he struck out in over 20 percent of his plate appearances. That being said, some of the 33-year-old's decline can be chalked up to the injuries he sustained during the season, as he played in 20 fewer games due to a concussion in the beginning of the season and an oblique injury not long after that. Hundley has garnered some value as a catcher with some power potential (along with the classic Coors Field effect), although his draft stock certainly took a hit after he signed with the Giants. He's in line to be Buster Posey's backup for the entirety of 2017, and since he is not playing half his games at high altitude, he can be left alone in most formats.

Hundley hit 13 homers in spacious Petco Park in 2013, so when he landed with Colorado last season, some thought there were better things to come. Instead, Hundley hit just 10 homers last season but took advantage of the spacious terrain of Coors to hit .301 on the season, including a .355 average at home compared to just .237 on the road. Another reason for the spike in average was that he reduced his strikeout rate from an awful 27.0-percent to 19.5-percent last season. Most of his production comes against righties as he has hit 51 of his 62 career homers against right-handers and has a career .260 average against them, versus a .215 average against lefties. He’s a decent second catcher in mixed leagues, but a more intriguing DFS play because he should be in the lineup against just about any righty while playing in Coors Field.

Matt Wieters' elbow injury put the Orioles in the market for a low-cost catching option, and they found a fit in Hundley. After being shipped from San Diego to Baltimore in late May, Hundley hit .233/.273/.352 with a 10:50 BB:K in 50 regular-season games (174 PA) while splitting time with fellow right-handed hitter Caleb Joseph. Joseph had a hot stretch in August but fell apart in September (.080/.132/.140), and the two wound up splitting time behind the plate -- four starts apiece -- in the postseason. Hundley signed a two-year contract with Colorado in the offseason where Wilin Rosario's lack of polish behind the plate could perhaps enable Hundley to stake a claim to the No. 1 job. Hundley lacks Rosario's power and posted a weak .273 on-base percentage last season, but his skills as a game-caller may be significant enough to make up for his offensive deficiencies. In fact, simply by calling Coors Field his home park, Hundley almost certainly stands to notice an improvement in his battling line.

Hundley spent the majority of the season as the Padres' primary catcher, with an interlude midseason following the completion of Yasmani Grandal's 50-game suspension. A gruesome ACL tear suffered by Grandal just before the All-Star break thrust Hundley back into a starting role, and he kept up his career year, accumulating 373 at-bats in 114 games. In the end, Hundley's final line (.233/.290/.389) was nothing to write home about, but right in line with that of his six-year career line. Because there's no guarantee that Grandal will be a go for spring training, Hundley could garner consistent run to begin the year, making him a consideration for those in deeper leagues and two-catcher formats.

A nice finish to the 2011 season had some thinking that Hundley might turn a small profit in 2012, for those willing to invest. A .196 BABIP, however, had other plans as it put a damper on his batting average and in part caused him to hit just .157/.219/.245 over 225 plate appearances. The BABIP dip is noteworthy as Hundley has a career mark of .293 in that department. To make matters worse, he played through a torn meniscus from April until he was moved to the DL in late August, when he had surgery. In 2013, expect his BABIP to bounce back and his numbers to rise across the board. The 50 games that Yasmani Grandal will miss due to suspension should give Hundley some added job security and playing time, both of which should give his value a slight bump.

Mediocre power numbers, a career .302 OBP, a below-average strikeout rate and injuries have all led Hundley to being an afterthought in fantasy circles. He's never played in more than 85 games in a season and, with a poor contact rate, has failed to deliver on most of the promise he showed in the minors. However, after mid-season surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow last year, Hundley's bat seemed to turn a corner. Over the final two months of 2011, he mashed six home runs, posted a 1.060 OPS and significantly dropped his strikeouts. The Padres expect him to assume primary catching duties in 2012, so if he can carry this momentum into the spring, he could prove to be a nice sleeper while Yasmani Grandal finishes his minor league development.

Hundley again shared catching duties for the Padres in 2010. Like most catchers, he doesn't hit for average and has only moderate power. With Yorvit Torrealba's departure in the offseason, the team hopes to expand his playing time in 2011. He's entering his age 27 season, but owners shouldn't expect some great breakthrough, especially since he still calls PETCO Park home.

No relation to the Mets and Cubs catcher from the 1990s, this Hundley is a comparable player, a low-contact backstop with some power who can draw an occasional walk. He's in the absolute worst park for a player with his skill set, crippling his fantasy value. If he ever gets out of San Diego, he could have a Mike Napoli season. Until then, he's a No. 2 catcher.

Even with the caveat that sometimes catchers need more time to develop their offense than other position players, Hundley's progress is not as rapid as some had hoped. Injuries to Josh Bard and Michael Barrett led to Hundley getting significant playing time last season, but he really did not show much with the stick, though he did a good job receiving. Hundley showed a little pop, but his problem is more with plate patience and making contact, which will keep his average below .250 unless he makes significant upgrades in these areas. Still, he may be the Opening Day catcher by default and is capable of double-digit homers with regular playing time.

Hundley will need to show more progress at the plate before he has a shot at sticking in the majors. He hit .247/.324/.475 with 20 homers and 72 RBI in 373 Double-A at-bats last year. He posted similar stats in the Arizona Fall League, although his power totals dropped. Hundley should spend 2008 in the minors. His eventual ceiling might be as a part-time major leaguer.

Hundley took over as San Diego's best minor league catcher when George Kottaras was traded to Boston in September. Hundley split his 2006 season between Low- and High-A and finished with a combined .276/.356/.442, 11 homers and 67 RBI. His power numbers declined significantly after his promotion to High-A, dropping from one homer every 30 AB to a homer every 65 AB. It’s no surprise, then, that he has a reputation as a solid defender with an inconsistent bat. He likely will face the Double-A test in 2007.