Port St. Lucy – When I last saw last season, Dedoniel Nuñez was an important part of the Mets bullpen.
On Monday, the right-hander returned to game action for the first time since August, firing a scoreless inning in a 2-0 exhibit loss to the Rays at Clover Park.
Nunez was suppressed during the Grapefruitreug season, allowing him to save the bullet for a critical game.
Last season, Nunez was closed due to forearm tension, limiting him to one appearance after July 23rd.
“I felt good today,” Nunez said through an interpreter. “I felt healthy. I just want to make sure I continue to feel strong and healthy as I prepare for the first day.”
Nuñez wasn't on the radar when spring began last year, but was sharp early in the Triple A Syracuse season, and got an opportunity with the Mets and arrived to stay on April 27th.
In 25 appearances, he pitched 2.31 ERA with 48 strikeouts and eight walks in 35 innings.
“We're talking about a guy who wasn't even in big league camp for us earlier this year,” coach Carlos Mendoza said. “And he comes in and he's throwing high leverage before you know it. [innings] For us. It's important to keep this guy healthy as he felt it and missed the piece out of the bullpen. Especially because he's a big part of that bullpen. ”
Nunez saw him wondering how he'd helped the Mets if their postseason was healthy.
The Mets reached Game 6 of the NLCS against the Dodgers before the season was over.
“It was an annoying situation and I thought there could be some potential to help the team succeed,” Nunez said. “But God has all the plans and I am happy to be back.”
There was initial concern last season when Nunez was declared that Tommy John might need surgery – he had gone through the procedures before, but he returned to health through rest.
Still, Mendoza expects to be conservative in his use of Nuñez, limiting him to one look and avoiding consecutive outings.
Last season, Nuñez made 13 appearances, over one inning.
He pitched three times in a row.
“The goal here is to have this guy healthy all year round,” Mendoza said. “We have to take care of him with his past injuries and everything he has experienced in his career.”
On this day, Nunez was the first in the lead with a four-seam fastball at 98 mph.
He threw 11 pitches. Six of them were sliders.
“It was the same guy we saw when he was healthy last year, so there's another good sign there,” Mendoza said.
Nuñez showed that his ready to start the season wasn't based on many appearances before the Mets beat camp the same way he felt next Monday.
If he is deemed ready, Nunez joins Reed Garrett, Lynn Stanek and AJ Minter as a highly leveraged option that leads to Edwin Diaz.
Left-handed miners have returned from hip surgery, but tend to be included on the first day's roster.
“There are a few options and that's what makes our group a part of the team's strength,” Mendoza said. “We need to keep them healthy.”
