Pirates' Malcom Nunez: Back with Pittsburgh as NRI
Rotowire
The Pirates re-signed Nunez to a minor-league contract Friday with an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Nunez, who turns 24 in March, slashed .250/.310/.365 with 11 home runs over 128 games this season for Triple-A Indianapolis. He'll be with the Pirates in spring training but is likely headed back to Indianapolis to begin 2025.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Malcom Nunez: Struggling since IL return
Rotowire
Nunez (shoulder) is slashing .195/.272/.305 with two home runs and eight RBI in 24 games since Triple-A Indianapolis reinstated him from its 7-day injured list Aug. 8.
Nunez was placed on the IL on May 27 with a right shoulder impingement and was cleared to begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break. He spent nearly three weeks in the lower rungs of the minors, appearing in games in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and for Single-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro before getting the green light to rejoin the Indianapolis lineup. The 22-year-old has struggled at the dish since making his return from the IL and is maintaining a .233/.313/.345 slash line in 252 plate appearances overall for Indianapolis this season.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Malcom Nunez: Shelved with shoulder issue
Rotowire
Triple-A Indianapolis placed Nunez on the 7-day injured list Saturday with a right shoulder impingement, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
He'll likely be barred from throwing and hitting for at least a week while recovering from the shoulder issue before he resumes training. The shoulder injury disrupted what had been a productive run at the plate for the the 22-year-old corner infielder, who finished May with a .357/.478/.536 slash line.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Malcom Nunez: Gets bump to Triple-A
Rotowire
Nunez was promoted from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Nunez's dynasty-league stock improved following the Jose Quintana trade that sent him from a crowded situation in St. Louis to a playing time free-for-all in Pittsburgh. The 21-year-old played 22 games at first base, five games at designated hitter and two games at third base after the trade while slashing .286/.381/.476 with five home runs and a 27:17 K:BB in 29 games.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Malcom Nunez: Included in Quintana trade
Rotowire
The Pirates acquired Nunez and right-hander Johan Oviedo from the Cardinals on Monday in exchange for left-hander Jose Quintana and right-hander Chris Stratton.
Nunez had spent all of the 2022 season at Double-A Springfield, churning out a .255/.360/.463 slash line to go with 17 home runs, 66 RBI, 51 runs scored and four stolen bases in 85 games. The Pirates will likely have the 21-year-old first baseman report to Double-A Altoona to begin his time in the organization.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Malcom Nunez: Not ready for Low-A
Rotowire
Nunez will open the year in extended spring training before being assigned to a short-season affiliate in June, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports.
He was the best hitter in affiliated baseball last year, logging a 238 wRC+ as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League, but he will need to wait for short-season leagues to open before setting out to prove it was not a small-sample blip against extremely raw teenage pitchers. He will likely go to either the Gulf Coast League or the Appalachian League in mid-June.
