The Mets’ bullpen just got a significant boost.
Dedniel Núñez made his Spring Training debut Monday, retiring all three batters he faced on just 11 pitches. His fastball touched 98 mph, giving New York a glimpse of what made him so effective as a rookie last season.
While the Mets have insisted Núñez is healthy all spring, seeing him actually take the mound suggests he might be ready for Opening Day after all.
“I was very grateful to get back out there,” Núñez told reporters through an interpreter. “I feel healthy, I feel strong. I’m trying to avoid having any setbacks… I’m just trying to continue to push forward.”
That’s welcome news for a Mets team looking to build a dominant bullpen. Núñez was quietly impressive in his 25 appearances last year, posting a 2.31 ERA while striking out 48 batters in just 35 innings. Those are the kind of numbers that can transform a middle-relief corps.
The 28-year-old right-hander now has a chance to carve out a meaningful role in a bullpen anchored by closer Edwin Diaz and newcomer A.J. Minter, who was brought in as a setup man. What makes Núñez particularly valuable is his ability to miss bats – his strikeout rate last season would translate to more than 12 Ks per nine innings over a full season.
The timing couldn’t be better for the Mets. With the season fast approaching, having Núñez healthy gives manager Carlos Mendoza another high-octane arm to deploy in high-leverage situations.
Let’s put it this way: you can never have enough arms in the bullpen, but ones that can touch 98 mph with swing-and-miss stuff? Those are the difference-makers in today’s game.
