Born03/16/1976 in Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic
ProfileHt.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School
Emmanuel
Debut08/27/1997
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
Background: Nunez was acquired from the Blue Jays in a nine-player trade following the 1996 season. He went all the way from Class A to the majors in '97 and had a fine spring with the big league club, but he sprained his left wrist and was hampered for a majority of the season. Strengths: Nunez has Gold Glove qualities in the field. He has outstanding range, soft hands and a strong arm. He also has the aptitude to know where to play hitters. Additionally, he has above-average speed and is a decent bunter. Weaknesses: The biggest question about Nunez is whether he will hit in the majors. He has little pop from either side of the plate and needs to develop the discipline to lay off high fastballs. Still trying to learn how to read pitchers' pickoff moves, he gets thrown out on the bases too frequently. The Future: Nunez will compete with journeymen Mike Benjamin and Rafael Bournigal for the Pirates starting shortstop job in spring training. The Pirates, though, would prefer that he spend more time in Triple-A.
Minor League Top Prospects
Nunez showcased an incredible arm that managers ranked as the best in the league. "He can play in the big leagues right now as a defensive outfielder simply because of that arm," High Desert manager Derek Bryant said. Nunez' speed only enhances his main strength. Scouts envision him as a five-tool player once he fills out his lanky frame, and in the process adds bat speed and power. Maturity is an issue with Nunez, who taunted some opponents after home runs. "He's turned the corner with his attitude and mannerisms lately," Bryant said. "Remember, he's a 19-year-old kid. We all needed to mature at 19."
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