Meaning absolutely no disrespect whatsoever, if you had mentioned the name Hunter Feduccia to most Dodgers fans prior to Sunday’s Spring Training game between the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, AZ, you probably would have been met with a quizzical look and a “Who?”

But if you had mentioned that name to a fan of the Dodgers Minor League affiliate Ogden Raptors, Great Lakes Loons, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Tulsa Drillers, or Oklahoma City Dodgers, you probably would have received an enormous smile and a nod of respect and approval.

You see, during his combined four seasons with those aforementioned Dodgers Minor League affiliates, the extremely popular 25-year-old Lake Charles, LA native and Dodgers 12th-round draft pick in 2018 out of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge was known for his infectious smile and humble personality as an up-and-coming and highly-touted catching prospect from ‘Down on the Farm.’

But after Sunday’s exciting come from behind 9-4 win over the “the North Siders,” you can bet that every Dodgers fan on the planet (at least those who caught the game on SportsNet LA television or AM 570 radio) know who Hunter Feduccia is now.

All the young Dodgers catching prospect did was go 2-for-3 with a three-run home run to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning, and a two-run double to right field in the bottom of the eighth inning, accounting for five of the Dodgers nine runs, to finish the day with a team-best .667 / .667 / 2.000 / 2.667 slash line; albeit after only two ‘meaningless Spring Training Games,’ as they are often called.

“It’s awesome. Yeah, just being around everyone, all the Big League guys. Yeah, it’s learning a lot. It’s been a blast being here,” Feduccia told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson after his incredible day.

When Watson mentioned to the young Dodgers catcher that with Will Smith and Austin Barnes soon heading off for the World Baseball Classic that he would undoubtedly see more playing time with the Big club, Feduccia was quick to (humbly) share his enthusiasm and focus.

“I think it’s good. Obviously I’m getting to know everyone and learning the pitchers as we go, but yeah, I’ll have a little more time with them, so that will be a plus, yeah,” Feduccia replied.

But despite his phenomenal storybook Major League Spring Training debut on Sunday, from a reality-check standpoint, Feduccia slots in behind both Smith and Barnes, and 21-year-old Dodgers top catching prospect Diego Cartago (who is ranked as MLB’s second best catching prospect) in the current Dodgers pecking order, and it is extremely unlikely that he will break camp on the Dodgers 40-man roster, let alone their 26-man active roster.

Then again, the catching business being what it is, the Dodgers newest hero is but a hard foul tip or hard collision at the plate away from being on the Dodgers 26-man roster on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium

Play Ball!

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