Marlins prospect Nasim Nunez has ‘continued the course.’ It led to Futures Game MVP honors
Nasim Nunez got All-Star festivities started on a high note for the Miami Marlins.
Nunez, Miami’s second-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft and the 20th-ranked prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline, earned MVP honors in the MLB All-Star Futures Game on Saturday, a 5-0 win for the National League over the American League at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.
He hit a three-run double in his lone at-bat of the game, stole a base and was part of the game-ending double play induced by fellow Marlins prospect and left-handed pitcher Patrick Monteverde.
Nunez’s double came on a middle-away sinker from Blue Jays prospect Yosver Zulueta with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Nunez slashed the pitch down the third-base line and into left field to score all three runners.
“MVP never crossed my mind until I got in the dugout and people started talking that talk, like ‘You’re MVP,’ I was like, ‘all right, all right, all right. Chill,’” Nunez told reporters in Seattle. “But the at-bat when I went up to the plate, it was just a regular at-bat. I did my breathing on deck, focused, picked up the ball out of the hand and was just ready to hit the ball.”
It’s the latest highlight of the season for the 22-year-old Nunez, who has spent all season so far with the Double A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Known for his top-notch defense at shortstop and speed on the basepaths, Nunez has 33 stolen bases in 36 opportunities and leads the Blue Wahoos with 53 walks while also ranking second on the team 47 runs scored.
And while Nunez isn’t known for his power, he does have a career-high four home runs already this season after logging just two in his first three seasons combined. He also has seven doubles, two triples and 31 RBI while helping turn 40 double plays on defense.
“He went to the weight room this year and he got more physical,” Marlins director of minor league operations Hector Crespo said. “I think he knew that he had to get stronger and just impact the ball a little bit more, but I’m really happy about him because when guys get added strength, they tend to overcompensate and think that they need to hit the ball harder. And most times with the natural bat-to-ball skills and you gain strength, it just happens naturally.
“He’s continued the course,” Crespo added. “Our biggest message to him is continue to put the ball in play and use your speed. The defense is what sets you apart. Continue the course. You guys have seen he’s an electric player, so as long as he’s on the field, then the biggest thing for him is he can do something that’s going to impact the game not just in the box. Whether it be on the bases or defensively, you can impact the game. Don’t get away from who you are.”
Monteverde, the Marlins’ No. 28 prospect, entered in the seventh inning with one out and a runner on first base, gave up a single to put runners on the corners and then induced a game-ending double play.
Monteverde, meanwhile, has been arguably the Marlins’ biggest surprise among its pitcher prospects this season. He leads the Southern League in wins (eight), ERA (1.93), batting average against (.185), and walks and hits per inning pitched (0.99) while throwing the second-most innings (74 2/3). He has 84 strikeouts against 26 walks and has allowed just four home runs over 287 batters faced. Seven of his 13 starts have been quality starts, defined as pitching at least six innings while allowing no more than three earned runs.
This story was originally published July 8, 2023 at 10:02 PM.
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