Washington Nationals General Manager and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo recently discussed the challenges of retaining infielder Nasim Nuñez after the team selected him with the fifth pick in the Rule 5 Draft. Rizzo acknowledged that keeping a young player like Nuñez on the roster throughout the season would be a test.
“Obviously, he’s not going to get a lot of at-bats at the big-league level,” Rizzo explained. He expressed confidence in the coaching staff’s ability to help Nuñez refine his skills. Rizzo noted that Nuñez could provide valuable contributions off the bench, especially as a defensive replacement and base-stealer.
Nuñez ended the season having played 51 games, which is the third-highest total for a Rule 5 pick in Washington’s history, behind Jesús Flores and Tony Blanco. He recorded 78 plate appearances, with a batting average of .246 and an on-base percentage of .370. Rizzo highlighted Nuñez’s defensive prowess, describing him as a “terrific” and “elite-level” shortstop who possesses strong arm strength and range.
“Nuñez averaged 91.6 mph on his throws, which ranked as the third hardest among MLB shortstops,” according to the Nationals’ season review. Manager Davey Martinez praised Nuñez’s arm, stating, “He lets it go. We always tell our first basemen, ‘You better be ready, cause it’s coming.’”
As the season progressed, Martinez developed trust in Nuñez’s defensive skills. He stated, “When the ball’s hit to him, I’ve got a great feeling that it’s going to be an out. He plays out there really well.”
Although Nuñez would have preferred more plate appearances in the minors, the rules of the Rule 5 Draft mandated his presence on the major league roster. Martinez emphasized the valuable experience Nuñez gained, learning from trainers and coaches throughout the season.
“For me, it’s the experience,” Martinez remarked in early September. He noted that Nuñez was learning about the demands of major league play, even if he was not starting every game.
Martinez observed significant growth in Nuñez during the season, saying, “At the beginning of the year, he was just really — everything was — he was in the cloud[s].” He credited Nuñez’s commitment to a strong work ethic and routine, which included daily workouts and practice.
“Now he’s getting to understand how important it is to really pay attention to detail,” Martinez added. He expressed excitement for Nuñez’s future contributions, knowing he would perform well in the field and continue to develop as a player.
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