Dedniel Núñez is almost fully built.
The Mets need to decide whether that means that the powerful right will be called out soon or if they need to show more in Triple A Syracuse.
Nunez was expected to pitch 28 pitches in the scoreless innings on Thursday, and use Friday as his recovery day.
It is possible that Nunez will be summoned in the next few days, but it is not so clear.
“Now, it’s the question, ‘OK, when are you going to call him?'” director Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets played Cardinals at Citifield.
Nuñez pitched against Syracuse in six games, and is as deep as two innings.
He showed good and hit eight in six innings.
He checked most of the boxes, but not all of them.
With his past two outings and 1²/₃ innings, Núñez walked five (which partially explains the 28-pitch night).
He’s not Sharp and the Mets may ask him to throw more strikes before he returns to Queens and welcomes him.
Núñez slowly brought in this spring after the 2024 season ended early due to forearm tension.
He appeared in just two Grapefruitreug matches, and the Mets involved him in the hopes of reducing the likelihood of suffering an elbow injury.
Nunez did everything he was asked, except that he consistently throws strikes at lower levels.
Meanwhile, the club’s big league bullpen took part in play at ERA 2.09, the team’s biggest strength throughout the first three weeks of the season.
If Nunez arrives, the Mets will have to send arms like Max Cranick, Juascal Brazovan, Reed Garrett (all great but with options), or Danny Young (exposed to exemption).
Jeff McNeill will be running a one-day center field experiment on Thursday, and will resume taking reps on the infield with Double A Binghamton.
“We all saw the play he made. [in center]Mendoza spoke about McNeill.
The Mets wanted to see McNeill after Jose Ciri fractured his tibia.
Top Prospect Brandon Sprote got off to the best start at Syracuse, pitching six scoreless innings and hitting four hits, walks and one against Blue Jays affiliates.
Sproat owns a 3.31 ERA with four triple-A starts.
