BIG NIGHT FOR HUNDLEY, BIG PLANS FOR THE FUTURE : DODGERS 7, FLORIDA 0.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Talk to certain folks in the Dodgers organization and they'll tell you about the huge season catcher Todd Hundley is in for next year. A year of strengthening his reconstructed throwing elbow, and a year of regaining his timing at the plate are reasons for such prognostications. So is Hundley's decision to remain at his Pasadena home during the offseason rather than return to New York. He will work out at Dodger Stadium.

Now, the only thing that can hamper those plans are results of a pending MRI Hundley will have when the team returns from a six-game road trip next Wednesday.

Hundley, who homered twice Wednesday night in Darren Dreifort's 7-0 victory against Florida in front of 36,463, has been bothered by a sore left wrist for the better part of a month.

His inability to freely move the pinky and ring finger on his left hand has caused him to stop switch-hitting and bat solely left-handed.

``The two fingers get locked and I can't move them,'' said Hundley, 30, who is signed through the 2000 season and has an option for 2001. ``I have to pry them off the bat when I hit right-handed,'' Hundley said. ``They say the ligaments have atrophied from surgery.''

Hundley had surgery to remove a bone spur and close a fracture in his left wrist in October 1995. He had a bone spur removed in the same wrist 13 months later. Neither procedure caused Hundley to miss playing time the next season.

The pain has hampered Hundley to the point where he couldn't even take batting practice from the right side. He said it's partially why he's just 4 for 40 from the right side this season and is the main reason he's decided to stop hitting right-handed.

``It hurts, but you play through it,'' Hundley said. ``It all depends how much pain you can take, I guess.''

Hundley hoping the ligament damage isn't too severe and surgery isn't needed. If that's the case, he'll begin a workout schedule almost as soon as the season ends.

``It should be the best thing to happen to him,'' said Dodgers coach Rick Dempsey, who tutored Hundley during an 11-day training session earlier this season. ``He's really going to have to knuckle down. When he comes to spring training, he'll be in game shape.

``For the majority of the winter, it's going to be leg work, running some hills and getting his legs stronger. He'll do some nice and easy long throws a few times a week for a few months to build arm strength.''

For what Hundley's been through during the past few years, running a few hills in the area will pale in comparison. Three years ago his mother, Betty, was diagnosed with cancer and given three months to live. She's persevered, and Hundley talks to her almost daily.

Professionally, he's survived a public, heated feud with Mets manager Bobby Valentine, had reconstructive elbow surgery Sept. 26, 1997, and missed most of last season before being traded to the Dodgers in the winter.

Hundley arrived at spring training about half-speed but never complained or went away from the company line that he was 100 percent healthy and ready to begin the season. It was only after a disastrous start at and behind the plate that manager Davey Johnson and general manager Kevin Malone admitted Hundley should have remained in extended spring training.

Then, after throwing out just seven of 60 base stealers, Hundley took 10 games off in mid-June to work with Dempsey on his throwing mechanics. And all the while Hundley never complained, just as he didn't when the Dodgers asked him to remain in Los Angeles during the offseason.

``It's the right thing to do, just to stay in the warm weather and get the work in I need and not go back to the freezing cold,'' Hundley said. ``That's a priority. Baseball is a priority. That's what I'm going to do, stay here this winter and get my work in on a daily basis.''

Still, Hundley's 19 homers (all left-handed) are fourth on the Dodgers. But he entered the night hitting .216. He also hasn't ruled out going back to hitting right-handed next season if everything works out well with his left wrist and he's able to work on hitting righty during the offseason.

``It reconfirms what we thought about Todd when we made the deal,'' Malone said. ``It's his commitment, intangibles. All those things he brings. Those are the kinds of guys we want to commit to. That's the type of player we want. That's the commitment level we want.''

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Mark Grudzielanek avoids Florida's Luis Castillo to complete a double play.

(2) Darren Dreifort limited Florida to seven hits and no walks in his first shutout this season.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer