PHOENIX – Bat in hand, Nick Hundley smiled broadly yesterday, a few yards from a lineup card that showed him eighth in the Padres' order. The catcher was nearing his major league debut, three years and one month after the Padres drafted him out of the University of Arizona.

“I'm just trying to take it all in,” Hundley said.

Hundley said it was regrettable that an injury to catcher Michael Barrett opened the roster spot for him – but as he knows, a major league opening doesn't always result in a call-up.

Hundley wasn't promoted from Triple-A the previous three times the Padres summoned a catcher this season. Twice he was passed over for Double-A catcher Colt Morton, who is batting .162 in the Texas League. Hundley, 24, said he stayed focused on performing better. He responded, raising his batting average from .189 as of May to .232 on Wednesday, when he got the news.

Hundley would be an upgrade for the Padres if he throws out would-be base stealers and hits home runs nearly as often as he did with the Portland Beavers.

His throwout rate was 38 percent. The Padres' caught-stealing rate of 13 percent is the worst in the majors, not even half the major league average (27 percent).

“I've worked on my throwing and staying consistent with my footwork,” Hundley said. “If I can do that here, I think I can be successful throwing guys out.”

Padres catchers also rank last in the National League in several offensive categories. Their slugging percentage going into play last night was .258 – last by 35 points. Hundley, meantime, hit 12 home runs for the Beavers.

“My main concern is to play good defense and get comfortable with the pitching staff,” said Hundley, whose on-base percentage with Portland was .285.

Barrett, Rodriguez

The facial fractures Barrett sustained Wednesday include the right orbital bone, manager Bud Black said. Black said there is a “reasonable chance” Barrett, whose vision reportedly was unaffected, could play again this season, but his return is more than six weeks away.

Utility man Luis Rodriguez, who joined the team yesterday, was happy to play shortstop regularly for Portland, aside from the month he spent on the disabled list. “I am comfortable there,” Rodriguez said.

The Twins, who waived him last fall, doubted Rodriguez at shortstop, keeping him at second base. It's clear that the Padres' front office hadn't given Black a utility infielder that the manager – or, for that matter, many scouts – trusts at shortstop. Khalil Greene's innings played total leads all major league shortstops this season.

Black yesterday rated Rodriguez the “truest shortstop” among Padres reserves this season. Rodriguez opened the season in Triple-A partly because the Padres committed to utility man Callix Crabbe. A Rule V draft pick, Crabbe was returned to the Brewers in May after contributing to the Padres' slow start.