The Mets will take a tough loss for their bullpen with just 15 games remaining in the regular season. They’ve announced that right-handed pitcher Dedniel Nunez will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to a strained flexor tendon in his right arm.
The 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic received a platelet-rich plasma injection in the tendon and hoped to avoid surgery. Still, the club won’t know how feasible that could be until his body has time to respond. “Everything is on the table, but right now, we thought that was the best route to go with the injection here,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Nunez has been one of the brighter lights in the Mets bullpen, making his MLB debut this season. He pitched in 25 games, collecting a 2-0 record, posting a 2.31 ERA, picking up one save, striking out 48 batters in 35 innings, only allowing eight walks. Nunez did miss time earlier in the season, spending a month on the injured list with a right pronation strain. He would only return for one appearance in late August.
Before his debut, Nunez signed as a free agent with the New York Mets in October 2016. He would pitch in three minor league seasons from 2017-19, where he was primarily used as a starter. In December 2020, he was selected by the San Francisco Giants during the Rule 5 draft. He did not pitch during the 2021 season, causing him to undergo Tommy John Surgery. He was returned to the Mets in November 2021.
Since rejoining the Mets organization for the 2022 season, he was only used as a bullpen pitcher. Between 2022-23, Nunez pitched three games in Low-A while mainly competing in Double-A and Triple-A. He would pitch 66 games during that period, striking out 119 batters in just 90 innings of work.
He showed no signs of slowing down in 2024, starting with Triple-A Syracuse. After pitching in 14 games, he held a 3-0 record, posting a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings, striking out 21 batters and walking six. While pitching with the Mets, he was a set-up man to closer Edwin Diaz.
The Mets are currently second in the N.L. East Divison, just eclipsing the 80-win mark and sole possession of third place in the N.L. Wild Card. The Mets will now have to look at other options for what’s been a resilient bullpen to hold down the lead in the late frames.
______
WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: New York Mets Pitcher Dedniel Nunez (72) delivers a pitch. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
