Nick Hundley

Hundley was drafted in the fifth round out of a Washington high school and has an opportunity to improve his draft stock marginally after three seasons at Arizona. He ranks right behind Southern California's Jeff Clement, Texas' Taylor Teagarden and Nevada's Brett Hayes as one of the nation's best catching prospects and could go as high as the second round if a team overdrafts for the position, as frequently happens. A solid defender with a strong, athletic body and above-average arm, Hundley has a quick glove-to-hand transfer that allowed him to throw out baserunners at a high rate this season, particularly in the second half. He has caught every day for the first time, unlike as a freshman when he was prone to passed balls and as a sophomore when he shared the job with the departed Richard Mercado. Hundley has also made considerable strides with the bat, improving from four home runs to a team-high 13 this season. He also boosted his average more than 50 points. Hundley comes from a strong athletic background. His father Tim is the defensive coordinator at Texas-El Paso and a member of the NAIA Football Hall of Fame after playing at Western Oregon.