SARASOTA, Fla. – After striking out 125 batters in 104.2 innings in his first full season in Class-A, Baltimore Orioles prospect Juan Nunez is looking to make his way up the ranks.
“I come with a plan to execute all of my pitches,” he said through an interpreter in the hot sun of the club’s minor league complex.
Midway through 2023, Nunez moved up from the Delmarva Shorebirds to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, showing off a fastball, slider and change-up. But he believes there’s always room for improvement.
Even with good results last year, he is looking to make it better.
Anthony Villa, Orioles Director of Player Development, pointed to his explosiveness, how his “arsenal is really developing nicely,” as well as his optimistic outlook. The Orioles’ camp plans to challenge him by putting him up against better hitters.
Due to his 2023 year and off-season improvement, there are a lot of expectations for Nunez to excel. He’s been living in the United States for the past five years, trying to move his way up in the minors.
Now that he has displayed his skillset, he is being given the chance to do so against harder competition the club says.
Nunez played in his home country, the Dominican Winter League after the 2023 season where, he said, he learned “from more experienced players and participated in a more competitive league.” He feels the atmosphere prepared him for spring training and will impact his success.
“I’m working to be a starter,” said the right-hander. “Regardless of the role, I’ll do the best that I can do.”
Nunez takes any tidbit of advice he can get. His coaching staff doesn’t want him worrying about his current and potential position.
“My coaches told me to concentrate on my work and that will take me where I want to go,” he said.