When the San Diego Padres released a Low A infielder named Anthony Nunez late in the 2021 season, no one noticed, least of all New York Mets fans.
Nunez, who started his career as a college player for Division II Tampa, still had some college eligibility left, so the switch-hitter went back to Michigan State and played third base. He ended up back in Tampa a right-handed reliever, and Tampa went on to win the D-II World Series.
That got him noticed by the Mets. “He is an unbelievable mover, and his arm works,” said Brett Campbell, the Florida area scout who signed Nunez, about the first time he saw him pitch, in a report by Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
The movement Nunez displayed as a part of his pitching repertoire included velocity, a feel for spin, and an advanced changeup, according to Eddy, so the Mets took a flyer on Nunez and took a run at developing him.
To say the plan worked is an understatement. Nunez struck out 46 percent of the batters he faced at High-A Brooklyn, and he allowed just three hits in ten appearances after being promoted to Double A Binghamton. His control deteriorated a little along the way, but Nunez added an effective cutter to go with the slider and his changeup, which is his out pitch.
Nunez isn’t really a velocity guy, though. He’s hit 96 mph on the radar gun, but most of his stuff sits in the low 90s. Nunez uses a two-seamer and a sweeper that provide contrasting movement, and hitters always have to be aware of his changeup, which Nunez will throw on any count.
Nunez profiles as a spot reliever at this point, but given his array of pitches, it’s easy to imagine him in a setup role if he can reestablish his control as he goes up the prospect ladder. Those guys are valuable, as the Mets discovered last year when they found themselves running the Syracuse shuttle, and an effective year in that role at Double A could eventually earn him a September tryout.
It’s a remarkable transition for a player whose pro career was basically dead in the water a couple of years ago, and it will be even more amazing if Nunez makes it to Citi Field. He’ll face plenty of competition along the way, but there’s a role waiting for him with the Mets if Nunez can continue to learn his craft and pitch effectively.