Jhonny Nunez
| IP | 5 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 10.8 |
| WHIP | 2.4 |
| BB/9 | 3.6 |
| SO/9 | 5.4 |
- Full name Jhonny J Nunez
- Born 11/26/1985 in San Jose De Las Matas, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 08/02/2009
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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After reaching the big leagues in 2009, Nunez took a step backward last season. The White Sox got him in the deal that sent Nick Swisher to the Yankees after the 2008 season, and he previously had been traded by the Dodgers (for Marlon Anderson) and Nationals (for Alberto Gonzalez). Nunez worked mostly as a starter earlier in his career, but Chicago made him a full-time reliever in 2009. Last year, the White Sox sent him down to Double-A to work as a starter, and he bombed when promoted him to their Triple-A bullpen. Nunez works off a 90-94 mph fastball that touches 97, locating it to both sides of the plate. He failed to command his slider in Triple-A, getting hit hard when he left it up in the zone, but it gives him a second plus pitch when it's on. He showed an average changeup as a starter but didn't use it much as a reliever. Scouts were impressed with his ability to dial his stuff up and down and pitch to contact as a starter, feeling that he took charge of the game in that role. Nunez's most likely route to Chicago is working out of the bullpen, however, and his struggles in Triple-A were perplexing. After pitched well in relief in the Dominican Winter League, he could claim a big league role in spring training. -
While Jeff Marquez was the more prominent prospect in the deal that sent Nick Swisher to the Yankees after the 2008 season, Nunez has a much better chance to have a lasting impact in Chicago. He didn't show it last September, when he got his first chance with the White Sox, but scouts say he has the stuff to establish himself as a big league reliever. He worked exclusively in relief for the first time in 2009 and put up a 2.55 ERA in 42 appearances in the minors. Originally signed by the Dodgers and traded three times since 2006, Nunez has a two-seam fastball that parks in the low 90s and a four-seamer than spikes as high as 97. His plus slider is his best pitch. He can back-door it to lefthanders or wrap it around their back foot when they're expecting him to work outside. He didn't have a feel for a third pitch when the White Sox acquired him but improved his changeup working with Birmingham pitching coach J.R. Perdew. Nunez is unlikely to pitch his way onto the big league staff out of spring training, but he could get there as a midseason replacement. The key will be the sharpness of his slider and his ability to get outs against lefties. -
Nunez has the best arm and upside of the three pitching prospects in the trade that sent Nick Swisher to the Yankees in November. The White Sox also acquired Wilson Betemit and swapped one righty prospect (Kanekoa Texeira) for another (Jeff Marquez) in the deal. New York had picked up Nunez just four months earlier, getting him from the Nationals for Alberto Gonzalez. Double-A Eastern League managers were stunned that Washington gave up such a live arm for a middling middle infielder. Nunez originally signed with the Dodgers and went to the Nationals in a 2006 trade for Marlon Anderson. They worked Nunez as a starter in high Class A during the first half of 2008, but he featured sharper stuff after a promotion and a move to the bullpen. Nunez shows two plus pitches at times: a fastball that sits at 92-94 mph and touches 95, and a slider with some power and inconsistent tilt. He throws from a low arm slot and was outstanding after the Yankees helped him achieve better balance in his delivery. He dominated in the EL playoffs and pitched well in instructional league. Nunez doesn't have a feel for an offspeed pitch and struggles against lefthanders when he doesn't command his fastball. The White Sox have yet to determine Nunez's role for 2009, but he has a good chance to open the season in Triple-A. -
The Nationals acquired Nunez from the Dodgers in the Marlon Anderson trade after his stellar U.S. debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2006, and he followed it up with a solid debut in full-season ball in 2007. He runs his fastball up to 94 mph and pitches in the low 90s with sinking life. Washington tried to teach him a curveball like it does with most of its young arms, but his low three-quarters arm slot was more conducive to a slider, so he scrapped the curve. He made progress tightening the slider, and it has a chance to be a plus pitch if he can command it more consistently. The Nationals forced him to throw his nascent changeup throughout the year, and he showed flashes of an average change in the instructional league. He still needs to refine both of his secondary offerings as well as his control, and to continue to learn how to set hitters up. Nunez often struggles to maintain his stuff as he gets deeper into outings, and his future may be in the bullpen. For now, he'll continue to start and advance to high Class A. -
In his domestic debut in the Dodgers system last summer, Nunez led the Gulf Coast League in wins and innings and finished second in strikeouts and ERA. He got better as the season went on, culminating in six shutout innings against the Red Sox in the first game of the GCL championship series. Nunez caught the attention of GCL Nationals manager Bobby Henley, who pushed for his acquisition in the Marlon Anderson trade. Nunez is a long way from the big leagues, but he has a live arm and a pair of potential plus pitches. He works at 89-92 mph with his fastball, touching 94, and he could add velocity as he fills out his wiry frame. He also throws a slider that can be hard with late snap, but it gets slurvy and the Nationals want him to add power to it. Nunez has a smooth arm action, but he needs to repeat his delivery more consistently. Sometimes he overthrows, missing up in the zone. Nunez also needs to develop a changeup to stick as a starter. He showed quality stuff and moxie in dominating the GCL, giving him a chance to be a No. 2 or 3 starter if it all comes together. He'll get a crack at the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2007.
Minor League Top Prospects
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In his first year in the U.S., Nunez led the GCL in wins (six) and innings (57), finished second in punchouts (56) and ranked third in ERA (1.58). He struck out 35 in his final four starts, which included six shutout innings against the Red Sox in the first game of the league championship series. After the GCL season ended, Los Angeles traded him to Washington for Marlon Anderson. Nunez has two potential plus pitches in his fastball and slider. He pitches at 91 mph with his fastball and touches 94. His slider is a hard pitch with late snap when he keeps it down. He tends to overthrow, missing up in the strike zone. He hasn't learned to repeat his delivery consistently, but he has size (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) and smooth arm action on his side.
