Juan Nuñez
P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 5' 11" 190LBS | Age: 24
MLB Pipeline Rank
ORIOLES: No. 8 |
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2024 2 1 2.45 7 4 0 29.1 38 1.09
Career Minors 4 13 3.32 58 45 2 230.2 288 1.25
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2024 7 2-1 2.45 29.1 38 1.09
Career Minors 58 4-13 3.32 230.2 288 1.25
  • ▾

Standard Minor League Pitching Statistics

SeasonTmLGLWLERAGGSSVIPHRERHRBBSOWHIP
2021 DSL Twins DSL ROK 2 4 2.14 11 10 0 46.1 32 17 11 1 15 62 1.01
2022 3 Teams Minors 0 2 3.58 14 12 0 50.1 43 28 20 4 24 63 1.33
2022 FCL Twins FCL ROK 0 2 4.85 8 7 0 29.2 27 19 16 2 10 47 1.25
2022 FCL Orioles FCL ROK 0 0 3.00 2 1 0 6.0 9 6 2 2 1 9 1.67
2022 2 Teams ROK 0 2 4.54 10 8 0 35.2 36 25 18 4 11 56 1.32
2022 Delmarva Shorebirds CAR A 0 0 1.23 4 4 0 14.2 7 3 2 0 13 7 1.36
2023 2 Teams Minors 0 6 3.96 26 19 2 104.2 84 51 46 8 58 125 1.36
2023 Delmarva Shorebirds CAR A 0 4 3.93 13 10 1 55.0 44 28 24 3 26 72 1.27
2023 Aberdeen IronBirds SAL A+ 0 2 3.99 13 9 1 49.2 40 23 22 5 32 53 1.45
2024 Aberdeen IronBirds SAL A+ 2 1 2.45 7 4 0 29.1 22 8 8 3 10 38 1.09
Aberdeen IronBirds SAL A+ 2 3 3.42 20 13 1 79.0 62 31 30 8 42 91 1.32
Delmarva Shorebirds CAR A 0 4 3.36 17 14 1 69.2 51 31 26 3 39 79 1.29

Scouting Report

2024

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45

One of the four pitching prospects acquired by the Orioles when they sent Jorge Lopez to the Twins at the 2022 Trade Deadline, Nuñez had to wait two years before throwing his first official pitch after signing with Minnesota in November 2019 for just $25,000. The pandemic erased what should’ve been his debut in 2020, and he was throwing well in the Florida Complex League at age 21 when the Orioles picked him up. Nuñez then pitched his way from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen in his first full season with his new organization, flashing power stuff but iffy control. He was off to a promising start back with Aberdeen this year before being shut down for the year in May with a shoulder issue.

Nuñez may only be 5-foot-11, but his stuff is big. He has the ability to miss bats with everything in his four-pitch mix, working his secondary stuff off a fastball that can flash 96-97 but typically settles consistently in the mid-90s. He throws a power curve and a gyro slider that flash plus, as well as a developing changeup that could become at least an average pitch. He pitches with quick arm action but there is some effort to his delivery. 

While he’s strong and compact, sub-6-footers often have trouble making it to the big leagues as a starting pitcher. Control is also a problem after Nuñez walked 13 percent of batters last summer. He’ll need to reverse that trend as he moves up the ladder if he doesn’t want to end up as a reliever. While Nuñez does have the wide arsenal to start, his power stuff would likely play up better in shorter stints. 


2023

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Nunez began his pro career when he signed with the Twins for just $25,000 in November 2019. He had to wait to throw an official pitch until 2021 because of the pandemic and pitched very well in his Dominican Summer League debut that summer. He was making his U.S. debut in the Florida Complex League in 2022 when he was one of four players sent to the Orioles in the Trade Deadline deal for Jorge Lopez. He pitched his way from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen in his first full season with his new organization.

While Nunez isn’t the biggest guy in the world at 5-11, he has really big stuff. He has the chance to have a very good three-pitch mix, starting with a fastball that he cranks into the mid-90s consistently. He misses a lot of bats with a wipeout slider that flashes plus and he works in a changeup that could be at least average. 

While he’s strong and compact, sub 6-footers often do have trouble making it to the big leagues as a starting pitcher. Nunez also needs to refine his command. After throwing a lot of strikes at the outset of his pro career, there's been an uptick in the 22-year-old right-hander's walk rate and there is some effort in his delivery. It’s a trend he’ll have to reverse as he moves up the ladder if he doesn’t want to end up in a bullpen.



Awards




Transactions

Team Date Transaction
12/11/2024 San Diego Padres purchased contract of RHP Juan Nuñez from Baltimore Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft.
11/03/2024 Aberdeen IronBirds activated RHP Juan Nuñez from the 60-day injured list.
07/22/2024 Aberdeen IronBirds transferred RHP Juan Nuñez from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
06/02/2024 Aberdeen IronBirds placed RHP Juan Nuñez on the 7-day injured list.
10/21/2023 RHP Juan Nuñez assigned to Tigres del Licey.
06/20/2023 RHP Juan Nuñez assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Delmarva Shorebirds.
08/16/2022 RHP Juan Nunez assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
08/16/2022 Delmarva Shorebirds activated RHP Juan Nunez.
08/02/2022 Baltimore Orioles traded RHP Jorge Lopez and cash to Minnesota Twins for RHP Yennier Cano, LHP Cade Povich, LHP Juan Rojas and RHP Juan Nunez.
08/02/2022 RHP Juan Nunez assigned to FCL Orioles.
06/06/2022 RHP Juan Nunez assigned to FCL Twins.
06/06/2022 FCL Twins activated RHP Juan Nunez.
07/10/2021 RHP Juan Nunez assigned to DSL Twins.
07/10/2021 RHP Juan Nunez assigned to DSL Twins.
11/14/2019 Minnesota Twins signed free agent RHP Juan Nunez to a minor league contract.