Orioles' Anthony Nunez makes 52 relief appearances as a rookie, ERA swings from 1.35 to 5.67

Acquired from the Mets in the Cedric Mullins trade

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

What happened: Anthony Nunez, a right-hander, made the Orioles' Opening Day roster and debuted March 28 with two perfect innings against the Twins. His 52 appearances rank fifth on the team.

Why it matters: Nunez was the first of the 14 prospects Baltimore received in its 2025 sell-off to reach the majors, a group that came back in seven trades involving eight players, including Mullins and Ryan O'Hearn. FanGraphs called his slider an elite swing-and-miss pitch and described him as a premium reliever with three plus pitches.

By the numbers: Nunez held a 1.35 ERA with 16 strikeouts through his first dozen games and earned holds in three straight April appearances. By the end of May his ERA was 5.67 after six outings with multiple runs allowed, including a four-run outing in Tampa Bay on May 20 that turned a 3-1 eighth-inning lead into a 5-3 loss. Baltimore optioned him to the minors in June when closer Ryan Helsley came off the injured list.

What to watch: FanGraphs has suggested Nunez could eventually be stretched out as a starter, which would shape how Baltimore uses him next season.

Sources

Yahoo MLB 2026-10-27T13:07:49.952217+00:00

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MLBAnalysisBaltimore OriolesNew York MetsMinnesota TwinsAnthony NunezCedric Mullins

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Orioles' Anthony Nunez makes 52 relief appearances as a rookie, ERA swings from 1.35 to 5.67

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