WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- When Blake Butera wrote Nasim Nuñez’s name at the top of the order on Sunday, the Nationals' first-year manager was intrigued by the potential of the lively infielder.
“There are so many things he can do on the bases that the biggest thing for him is just getting on base,” Butera said. “[We are] making sure he understands: We'd love some doubles and home runs. But at the end of the day, play your game, and just get on base and cause havoc.”
Done and done. Nuñez quickly converted the leadoff at-bat into the first run of the game in the Nationals’ 16-8 win against the Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Facing 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, Nuñez took ball one, then fell into a 1-2 hole on three straight foul balls. As soon as a 97.3 mph fastball was called strike three, Nuñez signaled for an ABS challenge. The call was overturned. Nuñez became the first Nationals hitter to call for a challenge -- and win. (The following inning, he lost a challenge on a strike thrown by Lake Bachar.)
“It felt good because I knew I couldn’t hit [it]. So if that meant it was a strike and I couldn’t hit it, we would have had some issues,” Nuñez said with a laugh.
On the next pitch, Nuñez connected on a changeup low in the zone and singled up the middle into center field. He stole second base during James Wood’s at-bat, advanced to third base on a Daylen Lile groundout, then scored on Brady House’s first of two home runs.
“The speed’s really good, the ability to put the ball in play, [he’s] just such a dynamic player,” Butera said. “… We want to see what type of spark he is in the front part of the lineup. He's got a lot of energy. He's bouncy, too.”
Nuñez, a 2023 Rule 5 Draft pick from the Marlins organization, bounced around between Triple-A and the Majors last season. He appeared in 39 games with the Nationals and 63 with the Rochester Red Wings. With CJ Abrams as Washington’s starting shortstop, there isn’t consistent playing time available for Nuñez on the current roster. But the Nats want to see more from him in camp, especially with what he has already shown with his arm.
“It’s a cannon,” said Butera. “And everything’s right on the money.”
As a rookie in 2024, Nuñez’s arm strength ranked in the 94th percentile among all players with an average of 91.6 mph. He ranked fourth in arm strength among shortstops (with a minimum of 50 throws). Last season, Nuñez did not qualify at shortstop or second base.
“He's a smaller guy, so you don't expect it, but he makes plays in the six-hole, and it’s a hose,” Butera said. “ … [He said], I liked to basically prove people wrong by throwing as hard as I can. He’s like, now I’m starting to learn how to have some touch and feel about not always using it and just using it when he needs it.”
Butera described Nuñez’s defense as “off the charts.” The next step will be improving his offense. Nuñez batted .232 with a .699 OPS in 82 Major League at-bats, and he recorded a .254 average and a .652 OPS in 201 Triple-A at-bats. Nuñez is focusing on driving the ball more this season. Butera also would like to see him control the zone.
“I lost my mind in Triple-A,” Nuñez said. “I lost my mind and gained a better perspective of things, and figured some things out with hitting. So I’m just glad that I can be able to win more fights in the box.”