Leo Nunez
From BR Bullpen
Leonel Nunez
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 160 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
Leo Nunez allowed 3 hits and 2 runs in one inning for the Aguilas Cibaeñas in the 2008 Caribbean Series. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 2000, but was traded to the Kansas City Royals in return for veteran catcher Benito Santiago on December 16, 2004. He made his major league debut with the Royals the following season and played for them until he was traded to the Florida Marlins on October 30, 2008 in return for slugging first baseman Mike Jacobs.
He had a tough first season in the majors in 2005, putting up an ERA of 7.55 in 41 appearances, all of them in relief. He only pitched seven games in the majors in 2006, then made six starts in 2007 as he finished the season on the Royals' roster. He put up a decent 3.92 ERA that season, obscured by a 2-4 record, and became a key member of the team's bullpen in 2008, going 4-1, 2.98 in 45 games as a set-up man for closer Joakim Soria. He spent time in the minor leagues during each of his first four seasons in the majors, including a stint in A-ball in 2005 after first being acquired by Kansas City. He played at two different levels each year, and as a result never put up eye-popping numbers, but was a solid reliever in AA and AAA in 2006 (a 2.90 ERA in 38 games) then was excellent in a brief stint as a starter to begin 2007 (2-2, 1.85 in 11 games between AA Wichita and AAA Omaha). He again played in both AA and AAA in early 2008 before claiming a permanent spot in the Royals' bullpen.
