PORT ST. LUCIE — If Dedniel Nuñez is wholesome to start out the season, he will probably be on the Mets’ Opening Day roster. Supervisor Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Saturday earlier than the Mets opened their Grapefruit League slate at Clover Park.
“If he’s healthy, he’s on the team,” Mendoza stated.
Nonetheless, after pronator and flexor accidents in his proper elbow final season, the Mets can solely write his identify in with pencil, not pen.
Nuñez seemingly got here out of nowhere final season as a 28-year-old rookie, going 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA over 25 appearances, and throwing a number of innings in varied conditions earlier than the accidents ended his season in August. He had been within the Mets system since 2016 when he signed as a 19-year-old free agent out of the Dominican Republic. The Mets briefly misplaced him to the San Francisco Giants within the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, however he was returned a yr later.
By that time, Nuñez hadn’t pitched in a sport in two years. The pandemic worn out the 2020 minor league season and a sprained elbow stored him on the 60-day injured checklist all through 2021. He pitched properly as soon as he was again within the Mets group in 2022, however by then he was 26 and had by no means pitched above Double-A.
Final yr, he posted a 1.29 ERA in Triple-A. The Mets took an opportunity once they wanted an arm and whereas his first stint within the huge leagues solely lasted one sport, he didn’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer for his subsequent change. He took it and ran with it, changing into a useful member of a bullpen that was crumbling.
The accidents have been regarding, however they have been particularly disappointing since they meant sitting out of the postseason.
“It was difficult, but I understand that it was out of my control,” Nuñez stated via a translator. “I would have loved to participate and help my teammates, but I didn’t want to further injure myself.”
Whereas he says his elbow feels nice now, the Mets are being cautious with him. His fastball is round 94-95 proper now, and whereas he was in a position to contact 98-99 final season, he’s not frightened since he can throw it within the zone. The main focus this spring is on his well being and his changeup. Nuñez didn’t throw it a ton final yr, so he’s hoping to put it to use extra to have the ability to higher combine speeds and hold hitters off steadiness.
If the Mets put Nuñez on the Opening Day roster, it may take away a spot for somebody like Sean Reid-Foley, who doesn’t have any minor league choices. The Mets have mentioned utilizing depth starters Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning out of the bullpen in the course of the first few weeks of the season when there are three off days, and transferring to a six-man rotation later in April.
Left-hander Danny Younger is within the combine for that final spot with right-handers Reid-Foley, Huascar Brazobán, Tyler Zuber and Austin Warren. Former Astros reliever Chris Devenski can be in camp battling for a spot, as is Genesis Cabrera, Warren and some others.
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Clay Holmes began his transition from starter to reliever with three excellent innings within the Mets’ Grapefruit League opener on Saturday. Needing to deepen his arsenal to make it 3 times via the order, the Mets are having Holmes add his changeup again into his pitch combine. He threw about seven of them, producing a number of whiffs.
“It’s going to be a weapon to lefties, but I think it’s just really going to help protect my sinker,” Holmes stated. “There’ll be a more of a speed gap between my sinker and changeup there going and away from a lefty. And it’s going to maybe open up more room for the cutter or four-seam. Really, it’s just to expand the arsenal and just have a few different looks where they’ve got the same speed and same movement.”
GUEST INSTRUCTORS
Former Mets left-hander Johan Santana is the primary visitor teacher to come back via Port St. Lucie this season. He was within the bullpen with among the Triple-A pitchers Saturday morning, and left-hander Sean Manaea joined them. Manaea threw to hitters two days in the past so he didn’t throw with Santana, however Santana was one among his favourite pitchers rising up, so he joined him to see how he gripped sure pitches.
