Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Nunez’s path to the Orioles’ system has been anything but conventional. Drafted in the 29th round in 2019, he spent two seasons as an infielder in the Padres' system before being released. Utilizing an NCAA loophole, Nunez was granted eligibility to play at Division II University of Tampa despite his pro experience. He transitioned to the mound as a two-way player and emerged as a pitching prospect while helping the Spartans win a national title in 2024. He signed with the Mets as a free agent that summer, then was acquired by the Orioles in the Cedric Mullins deal at the 2025 Trade Deadline and reached Triple-A before the year was out.

The 24-year-old seems poised to impact a big league bullpen soon despite his limited experience on the mound. He’s a power reliever who can touch 96 mph with his four-seam fastball and generate grounders with his two-seam. He also possesses a deep mix of secondary weapons. His 85-87 mph sweeper and mid-80s changeup are the stars of the show -- the former ripping glove-side and down to generate some funky swings, while the latter is sold with good arm speed before it hits the brakes. He amassed 83 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings last year thanks to those offerings and a low-90s cutter that’s also an above-average pitch.

Nunez’s walk rate ticked up at the upper levels last season, but he should have enough control to pitch in high-leverage situations as his athleticism helps him work within the zone. The Orioles are no strangers to producing unheralded leverage relievers, and with continued polish, Nunez has the ingredients to become the next. What was a major find for Mets scouting has turned into an intriguing upside play for the Orioles’ pitching development group.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Taken in the 29th round of the 2019 Draft as a 17-year-old out of a Miami-area high school, Nunez played two seasons as an infielder in the Padres pipeline, topping out with six games at Single-A in 2021 before being released. He utilized an NCAA eligibility rule that stated certain former Minor Leaguers could play college baseball, so long as it wasn’t at Division I or a junior college. Nunez joined Division II University of Tampa, transitioned to the mound as two-way guy in 2024 and helped the Spartans win a D-II national title that spring. The Mets signed him as a free agent last summer, and in his age-23 season, the right-hander had already climbed to Double-A when he was sent to the Orioles in the Cedric Mullins deal at the Trade Deadline.

Given his lack of experience on the mound, Nunez has been able to meld his position-player athleticism with a willingness to try new things with pro instruction. He’ll touch 96 mph with his pair of fastballs but has added a low-90s cutter that’s become a better weapon out of the pro bullpen, especially with how it plays compared to the wackier movement of his other offerings. His 85-87 mph sweeper and mid-80s changeup are the stars of the show -- the former ripping gloveside and down to generate some funky swings, while the latter is sold with good arm speed before it hits the brakes. Because of the pair, Nunez has dominated batters from both sides in the first three months of ’25.

The aforementioned athleticism helps Nunez work in the zone, but his walk rate has ticked up at Double-A. He’s likely to stick in the bullpen anyways and is already flying up the chain in that role. Nunez is looking like a major find by Mets scouting and an early win for the group’s pitching corps, though now it will be up to the Orioles to polish him up for the big leagues.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/06/2025	Baltimore Orioles selected the contract of RHP Anthony Nunez from Norfolk Tides.
	08/05/2025	RHP Anthony Nunez assigned to Norfolk Tides from Chesapeake Baysox.
	07/31/2025	Baltimore Orioles traded CF Cedric Mullins to New York Mets for RHP Raimon Gomez, RHP Anthony Nunez and RHP Chandler Marsh.
	07/31/2025	RHP Anthony Nunez assigned to Chesapeake Baysox.
	07/30/2025	Chesapeake Baysox activated RHP Anthony Nunez.
	05/12/2025	RHP Anthony Nunez assigned to Binghamton Rumble Ponies from Brooklyn Cyclones.
	04/01/2025	RHP Anthony Nunez assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones.
	03/17/2025	RHP Anthony Nunez assigned to New York Mets.
	03/06/2025	activated RHP Anthony Nunez.
	08/06/2024	3B Anthony Nunez assigned to St. Lucie Mets from FCL Mets.
	06/14/2024	FCL Mets activated 3B Anthony Nunez.
	06/14/2024	3B Anthony Nunez roster status changed by New York Mets.
	06/14/2024	New York Mets signed free agent 3B Anthony Nunez to a minor league contract.
	06/14/2024	3B Anthony Nunez assigned to FCL Mets.
	01/23/2024	Tampa Spartans activated 3B Anthony Nunez.
	01/23/2024	3B Anthony Nunez assigned to Tampa Spartans.
	08/21/2021	Lake Elsinore Storm released SS Anthony Nunez.
	08/07/2021	SS Anthony Nunez assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
	06/01/2021	SS Anthony Nunez assigned to AZL Padres 1.
	09/27/2019	SS Anthony Nunez assigned to San Diego Padres Futures.
	09/27/2019	SS Anthony Nunez assigned to San Diego Padres Futures.
	06/18/2019	SS Anthony Nunez assigned to AZL Padres 2.
	06/18/2019	SS Anthony Nunez assigned to AZL Padres 2.
	06/17/2019	San Diego Padres signed SS Anthony Nunez.