PITTSBURGH – Nasim Nuñez spent the entire 2024 season in the big leagues. Walking into the Nationals clubhouse this weekend shouldn’t have been a big deal for the 24-year-old infielder.
It is different this time around, though. Nuñez may have been a big leaguer all last season, but he was the 26th player on a 26-man roster, a Rule 5 Draft pick tasked with learning everything he could from the bench, rarely getting a chance to play.
This time, Nuñez could be here to play, summoned from Triple-A Rochester after starting shortstop CJ Abrams landed on the 10-day injured list.
“I told my dad I feel like I never left,” Nuñez said. “I’m very excited, but at the same time I’m very calm. I think the calmness came from last year. And the excitedness is coming from actually coming up here and living out my dream.”
Davey Martinez didn’t play Nuñez over the weekend in Miami, wanting to give him some time to adapt and get comfortable again. But he’s got him in the lineup tonight for the Nats’ series opener against the Pirates, including a matchup with ace Paul Skenes.
The plan all along was to send Nuñez to Triple-A after he satisfied his Rule 5 requirements last season. He needed to get actual playing time after taking only 78 plate appearances last year. But Nuñez put pressure on club officials to keep him on the Opening Day roster, enjoying an eye-opening spring that included a .419 batting average, .970 OPS and seven stolen bases, along with his usual sterling defensive play.
The Nationals ultimately optioned Nuñez to Rochester, but the message was clear: They wanted him to play every day and make sure he’d be ready to go if anything happened to Abrams. Two weeks later, something did happen to Abrams, opening the door for potentially more playing time here now.
“He had a good spring training, but then again, we’re going to have to see it up here,” Martinez said. “He gets the opportunity to play today. But I’ve got all the faith that he’s going to go out there and make the plays for us. And when he gets on base, good things happen.”
Martinez didn’t commit to Abrams as the everyday shortstop with Abrams is on the IL. Paul DeJong also provides exceptional defense, though the veteran is 9-for-48 with two RBIs at the plate. Amed Rosario, who has started at third base when DeJong slides over to shortstop, is 9-for-29 with three extra-base hits.
Nuñez knows nothing is being handed to him. But he does want to make the most of this opportunity. He was comforted by the message Martinez gave him when he was sent down at the end of camp, but he’d rather not have to go through that again.
“It helped before I went down, but then things change once you actually go,” he said with a laugh. “I was happy all spring. And even though I didn’t get what I wanted at the end of the day, I was proud of my work and all the people who helped me, seeing all that come to fruition.”