The New York Mets bullpen has been plagued by injuries throughout the season.
With Brooks Raley and Grant Hartwig sidelined for the rest of the season, and key players like Edwin Díaz and Reed Garrett also missing significant time, first-year manager Carlos Mendoza has faced numerous challenges.
Despite these setbacks, the injuries have opened up opportunities for other players to step up in the big leagues. One of those players, Dedniel Núñez, has made the most of his chance but is now dealing with forearm tightness.
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After Núñez did not appear in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 8-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, questions arose about his availability. It was later revealed that he wasn’t available due to his injury.
“He’s not recovering well,” Mendoza said after the game. “He played catch, but he’s still experiencing tightness in his forearm. It’s a day-to-day situation, and we’ll see how it progresses.”
Núñez had previously been on the injured list since July 24 with a right pronator strain and was only recently activated. The 28-year-old pitched 1.2 innings on Saturday against the San Diego Padres, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters. When asked if Núñez might return to the injured list, Mendoza said it was uncertain and that the team would reassess the situation on Thursday.
Núñez, a Dominican Republic native, has been a standout surprise for the Mets, emerging as one of the bullpen’s most valuable relievers since his MLB debut on April 9. He has pitched 35 innings across 25 appearances, posting a 2.31 ERA with a 0.914 WHIP, 48 strikeouts, and a save.
What does this mean for the Mets?
This is a concerning development for the Mets, as they need their roster to be as healthy as possible during this critical stretch of the season. If Núñez is forced to miss more time, it would be a significant setback for the Mets bullpen.
