Justin Huber

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #17 prospect in 2008
  Huber missed significant time for a second straight season, leaving Royals officials to ponder numbers that would project to 30-plus home runs over a full season. A productive enough player at the plate, Huber remains on the prospect map despite not really profiling anywhere with the Royals after a third season in Triple-A. Knee injuries forced him from behind the plate after he was acquired from the Mets in 2004. He split time last season between right field and first base but is not great at either position. He has plenty of arm to play either corner outfield position but lacks instincts. He showed improved footwork and a better understanding of first base, and that could be where he ultimately lands. It's Huber's bat that will determine his big league success. One team official compared him to a Matt Diaz, a player without an obvious position who can hit .300 with power if given 300 at-bats. Huber has good strike-zone discipline and drives the ball to all fields and would be a DH candidate if Billy Butler could play first base. Out of options, Huber needs to make the big league club out of spring training or else be exposed to waivers.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #8 prospect in 2007
  Huber has been on the prospect radar for so long that he has appeared in three Futures Games, winning MVP honors in 2005. A catcher in the Mets system before coming to the Royals in a three-team deal for Kris Benson in 2004, he moved to first base after switching organizations. Passed by 2006 trade acquisition Ryan Shealy at that position, Huber is now getting time in the outfield. He surprisingly didn't get a September callup and spent the month back home in Australia. Huber stays inside the ball well and can spray line drives all over the field. He has a good knowledge of the strike zone and could hit 15-20 homers per season. He has solid arm strength and more athleticism than most former catchers. Huber has yet to prove he has the power to warrant everyday play at first base or an outfield corner. His athleticism hasn't translated well to his defense, where he lacks instincts. He was a shaky receiver and is now an adequate first baseman and a raw outfielder. His speed is slightly below average. With Shealy at first and a multitude of outfield candidates, Huber's chances of becoming a regular with Kansas City are diminishing. He doesn't have much to gain from a third stint in Triple-A, so a trade could be possible.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #3 prospect in 2006
  Huber came to the Royals for third-base prospect Jose Bautista as part of the three-team deal that sent Kris Benson to the Mets in July 2004. In his last game in the New York system, Huber hurt his left knee and required arthroscopic surgery, knocking him off Australia's Olympic team and delaying his Royals debut until 2005. The injury also cinched the decision to move him from catcher to first base. He made his major league debut in place of an injured Mike Sweeney in June and won MVP honors in his third Futures Game with a two-run double in July. Huber is a pure hitter with a strong grasp of the strike zone. He stays inside the ball well and can spray hits from gap to gap while offering 20-homer power. He has more athleticism than expected from a former catcher. Huber is still learning how to play first base, fighting his catcher's instinct to block balls with his body rather than field them. He should become adequate, though never an asset defensively. He's a slightly below-average runner. Huber resembles Sweeney in many ways, and Sweeney's presence in Kansas City could mean Huber goes to Triple-A Omaha for regular duty unless the two end up in a first base/DH tradeoff. An Achilles injury canceled Huber's 2005 trip to the Arizona Fall League, but he'll be ready for spring training.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #5 prospect in 2005
  The Royals acquired Huber from the Pirates for Jose Bautista as part of the three-team trade that sent Kris Benson to the Mets. In his last game in the New York system, he tore cartilage in his left knee in a home-plate collision. Arthroscopic surgery cost him the rest of the season and a chance to play for Australia in the Olympics. Huber has more offensive potential than most catchers. He should hit for a high average with 20-homer power, and he also draws plenty of walks. He has average arm strength. Huber has a better bat than fellow trade acquisition John Buck, but his defense lags behind Buck's and may push Huber to first base or left field. His footwork is his most glaring deficiency, the major reason why he never has thrown out more than 25 percent of basestealers at any level. After a brief stop at Triple-A Omaha, Huber should be ready for the majors. He's likely to see time in several roles for the Royals rather than become their everyday catcher.
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  Ranked New York Mets #6 prospect in 2004
  While he's somewhat raw because he's from Australia, Huber has played baseball and been a fixture on Australian national teams for years. He signed with the Mets right before earning all-tournament honors at the 2000 World Junior Championship. Since arriving in the United States, the only thing that has slowed him down has been a strained pectoral muscle that cost him the first four weeks of the 2003 season. Huber is an offensive catcher. He has the ability to hit for average with 20 homers annually, and the Mets rave about his raw power. He also has shown the ability to get on-base with a career .382 OBP. He has solid catch-and-throw potential, and he handles pitchers well. Huber is still raw defensively. At times he looks mechanical with poor footwork. When his mechanics are out of whack, his average-at-best arm becomes a liability. He threw out just 24 percent of basestealers in 2003. With Jason Phillips' and Mike Jacobs' strong showings in 2003, there's no need to rush Huber. He'll return to Double-A to start 2004.
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  Ranked New York Mets #5 prospect in 2003
  Huber jumped on the fast track last year and emerged as one of the minors' better catching prospects. He became the first unanimous selection in the South Atlantic League's midseason all-star game since Mike Hargrove in 1973. He continued to produce after a mid-July promotion to high Class A but looked exhausted in the Arizona Fall League. The Mets focused on Huber's defense last year, so everything he accomplished at the plate was a credit to him. Strong and intense, he has the bat speed and power to hit 25-30 homers a year. Huber understands the strike zone. He shows quick feet and excellent mobility behind the plate. Huber threw out just 24 percent of basestealers in 2002. He has average arm strength and accuracy and needs to improve his release. He worked with Capital City coach John Stephenson, a former big league receiver, on the finer aspects of game-calling. Huber is on track to be the eventual replacement for Mike Piazza behind the plate in New York. A return to St. Lucie is likely in 2003, with a midseason promotion to Double-A a possibility.
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  Ranked New York Mets #24 prospect in 2002
  The 19-year-old Huber exceeded most expectations in 2001, the first professional season in the U.S. for the Australia native discovered by Mets assistant GM Omar Minaya. Huber led Kingsport in home runs and RBIs and ranked sixth in the Appalachian League batting race. The Mets were pleasantly surprised with the polish Huber showed, particularly with his efforts behind the plate. He does a good job of calling a game and working with pitchers. He also stands out for his mobility and ability to block balls in the dirt. He has an above-average arm and remained strong throughout the course of the humid Southern summer. Scouts like Huber's gritty, hard-nosed style and believe he has the ideal makeup to succeed as a catcher. Huber will move to full-season ball in 2002 at Capital City.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Texas League #10 prospect in 2005
  Traded to Kansas City in the three-team Kris Benson deal at the 2004 trade deadline, Huber tore knee cartilage in his last game in the Mets system. He didn't make his debut in the Royals organization until this year, when he played at first base and DH to keep his bat moving through the system. That strategy worked, as he led the league in on-base percentage and slugging, won the MVP award at the Futures Game and got his first taste of the majors. Huber uses the whole field and stays inside the ball, usually hitting it where it's pitched. At the same time, he has the ability to drive the ball when pitchers give him the opportunity. He'll be even more intriguing if he can return to catching, though he received mixed reviews there in the past.
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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #20 prospect in 2005
  Willingham probably will follow the path Huber embarked on in 2005. A defensively-challenged catcher in the Mets system before joining the Royals in the three-team Kris Benson trade last year, Huber switched to first base with his new organization. He's still shaky with the glove, but his bat is his ticket. The MVP of the 2005 Futures Game, Huber has the potential to hit .280 with 20-plus homers and more than his share of walks. He has plenty of bat speed and a willingness to use the entire field. If Kansas City trades Mike Sweeney during the offseason, Huber would be his logical replacement.
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  Ranked Florida State League #20 prospect in 2003
  Huber continued to refine above-average offensive tools this year while struggling at times defensively. He has good power, understands the strike zone and is willing to hit the ball to all fields. He has strong wrists and does a fine job of incorporating his lower half into his swing. Huber worked with Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter to improve his defensive skills, but he still lacks the quick catch-and-throw exchange to make up for a below-average arm. He threw out just 25 percent of basestealers, compared to 41 percent by St. Lucie's other backstops. "He's going to be very adequate behind the plate defensively, but he'll be a force offensively with power to all fields," Sisson said. "He can hit the ball with power all around the park. I see him as a middle-of-the-order run producer."
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #9 prospect in 2002
  Huber showed that he could be the catcher who finally forces Mike Piazza to move to first base. The Australian put together a dominating first half that led to a mid-July promotion to the FSL. He returned to Capital City in late August in time for the playoffs. Huber has a quick bat that should produce 25-30 home runs annually in the major leagues. Not surprisingly, his power suffered as the constant catching demands and Southeastern heat took its toll. After hitting his 10th home run on May 23, Huber went deep only four more times the rest of the year. Nevertheless, he continued to display quick feet and excellent mobility behind the plate. His arm is considered a little above-average, and he does an excellent job of working with pitchers. "Justin is a tough kid, a gamer who loves to play," Capital City manager Tony Tijerina said. "He's no maintenance and has all the intangibles you want in a catcher."
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  Ranked National League #13 prospect in 2001
  The Mets have become a bigger player on the international front in recent seasons. One of their better finds is Huber, a tough and gritty receiver from Australia. Huber showed more polish than expected during his first taste of pro ball. He displayed impressive strength with good size and an above-average arm behind the plate. He also hit better as the season progressed, including a 4-for-4 performance during the final week. "He's a tough kid who is going to get better and better," Johnson City manager Chris Maloney said. "I like the way he calls a game and he moves around behind the plate real well. I think he has a chance to be a complete player." "Justin did as good a job of blocking balls and handling pitchers as any catcher in the league," Bluefield manager Joe Almaraz said. "When you project where he could be in a couple of years, he's a kid who should have a good future."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #84 prospect in 2006
• Ranked Baseball America's #66 prospect in 2003

• December, 2001 Scouting Report
  The 19-year-old Huber exceeded most expectations in 2001, the first professional season in the U.S. for the Australia native discovered by Mets assistant GM Omar Minaya. Huber led Kingsport in home runs and RBIs and ranked sixth in the Appalachian League batting race. The Mets were pleasantly surprised with the polish Huber showed, particularly with his efforts behind the plate. He does a good job of calling a game and working with pitchers. He also stands out for his mobility and ability to block balls in the dirt. He has an above-average arm and remained strong throughout the course of the humid Southern summer. Scouts like Huber's gritty, hard-nosed style and believe he has the ideal makeup to succeed as a catcher. Huber will move to full-season ball in 2002 at Capital City.
• December, 2000 Scouting Report
  The Mets have become a bigger player on the international front in recent seasons. One of their better finds is Huber, a tough and gritty receiver from Australia. Huber showed more polish than expected during his first taste of pro ball. He displayed impressive strength with good size and an above-average arm behind the plate. He also hit better as the season progressed, including a 4-for-4 performance during the final week. "He's a tough kid who is going to get better and better," Johnson City manager Chris Maloney said. "I like the way he calls a game and he moves around behind the plate real well. I think he has a chance to be a complete player." "Justin did as good a job of blocking balls and handling pitchers as any catcher in the league," Bluefield manager Joe Almaraz said. "When you project where he could be in a couple of years, he's a kid who should have a good future."