Coach Hundley's Son Makes MLB Debut for Padres

[MrMustang1965]

PHOENIX -- Nick Hundley would have been perfectly content making his Major League debut anywhere on Friday, though Chase Field proved a fitting destination for the rookie catcher to make his Padres debut.

Hundley, 24, played three seasons down I-10 in Tucson for the University of Arizona and was greeted by several former Arizona coaches and some friends on Friday when he got the start behind the plate on the same day he was recalled from Triple-A Portland.

"It's great to be back here," Hundley said. "I went to a bunch of games here when I was in college. I have seen those guys [Diamondbacks] play. It's nice to be back in Arizona."

Hundley's night was anything but mundane, as the Padres' second-round Draft pick in 2005 got his first Major League hit off Arizona pitcher Dan Haren in the fifth inning, worked well with starting pitcher Cha Seung Baek, who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and was on the receiving end of an important play in the sixth inning.

With the Padres holding a 2-0 lead and with Stephen Drew on second base with two outs, Justin Upton lined a single to left field. Chase Headley got the ball and came up throwing as Hundley settled just in front of the plate.

Hundley might have deked Drew just enough to give him time to receive the throw on a line from Headley before applying the tag for the final out of the inning.

"I knew it was going to be a real good throw," Hundley said. "I wanted to be patient and let the ball come to me."

That Hundley's parents, Tim and Pam, his girlfriend and other family members were in attendance only made Hundley's debut more special. Some friends of Hundley's even rented the pool area beyond the fence in right-center field for the game.

"I thought it would be an amazing experience and a fun time," Hundley said. "... It was incredible. Going out there in the first inning was amazing, the play at the plate, that was probably the most emotional play for me. Getting the hit and watching the ball getting thrown back in, too."

Hundley's father is the first-year assistant head football coach at Southern Methodist University. He spent the last four seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Texas-El Paso.

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