5:10pm: The O’s have formally introduced that Nunez has cleared waivers and is again with them. He has been assigned to their minor league camp.
4:25pm: The Padres are returning Rule 5 decide Juan Nunez to the Orioles, reviews Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Rule 5 gamers must clear waivers earlier than being provided again to their unique membership. It’s not clear if that has occurred but. Regardless, the Padres open a 40-man roster spot. If Nunez formally winds up again with the Orioles, he is not going to have to take a 40-man spot with that membership.
Nunez, 24, is a right-handed pitcher who has labored each as a starter and reliever. Initially a Twins prospect, he was considered one of 4 gamers despatched to the Orioles as a part of the August 2022 Jorge López commerce.
In his time within the minors, he has posted a lot of strikeouts but in addition loads of walks. From 2021 to 2024, he tossed 230 2/3 innings throughout varied ranges with a 3.32 earned run common. He punched out 29.6% of opponents however gave out free passes at an 11% clip.
He began 2024 on the Excessive-A degree. He was shut down in Could with a shoulder damage, limiting him to simply seven begins on the 12 months. That made him one thing of a shock decide within the Rule 5, since he nonetheless hadn’t even reached the Double-A degree. Per J.J. Cooper of Baseball America, he was slowed by that shoulder once more to start out camp. He finally made 4 appearances within the Cactus League however gave out six walks in comparison with simply 4 strikeouts.
Nunez was already going to have a tricky path to breaking camp. He has no upper-level minor league expertise and is coming off a principally misplaced season. It definitely didn’t assist that the shoulder issues carried over to this 12 months and he struggled along with his management.
The Padres additionally have to open a lot of 40-man spots. They’re planning to pick out the contracts of a number of non-roster invitees, with Jose Iglesias, Yuli Gurriel and Martín Maldonado reportedly all making the membership. Nunez will open one spot. It additionally appears that Tyler Wade and Eguy Rosario are going to be eliminated, since each are out of choices and aren’t going to make the Opening Day roster.
