Texas hires former catcher Nick Hundley as special assistant

The Rangers announced Monday that they’ve hired former big-league catcher Nick Hundley as a special assistant to general manager Chris Young. The 12-year MLB vet had been working in league offices as a senior director of baseball operations.

While Hundley’s title with the league was a bit nebulous, MLB’s press release at the time of his hiring in 2020 indicated that he would serve “as an MLB liaison to Major League Clubs, players and umpires” in addition to aiding “in the administration of on-field discipline and will provide insights regarding on-field rules, initiatives, technology, instant replay and other topics.” Hundley’s role with the league also included working to promote youth baseball initiatives in somewhat of an ambassadorial capacity.

Hundley, 38, is no stranger to Young. The two were not only teammates but batterymates with the Padres from 2008-10, worked together in the league offices in 2020, and surely still enjoy a strong relationship to this day. Hundley spent the first six-and-a-half seasons of his career in San Diego and also appeared with the Orioles, Giants, Rockies and A’s throughout his dozen years in the majors.

Hundley received few starting opportunities but was typically used more heavily than a standard backup catcher. He appeared in 974 MLB games and racked up 3,373 plate appearances over his 12-year career, batting .247/.299/.405 with 93 home runs, 169 doubles, 20 triples, 319 runs scored and 376 runs knocked in from 2008-19.

The Rangers’ press release did not specify which areas of baseball operations will be Hundley’s primary focus, but he represents the latest in a growing number of former players the organization has hired as special assistants. Michael Young, Colby Lewis, Brandon McCarthy, Darren Oliver and Ivan Rodriguez are also listed as special assistants in the Rangers’ baseball ops department.