Leo Núñez

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Leo Núñez

position=Setup pitcher
team=Kansas City Royals
number=46
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|8|14
debutdate=May 9
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Kansas City Royals
statyear=2007
stat1label=Win-loss
stat1value=5-6
stat2label=ERA
stat2value=5.77
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=76
teams=
*Kansas City Royals (by|2005-present)

Leonel Núñez (born August 14, 1983 in Jamao Norte, Dominican Republic) is a pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Kansas City Royals. He bats and throws right-handed.

Núñez was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an undrafted free agent on February 16, by|2000.

From by|2001 to by|2004, he was a mainly used as a starting pitcher in the Pirates system. On December 16, 2004, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals for catcher Benito Santiago.

After being traded to the Royals, he was converted to a full time relief pitcher. He began the by|2005 season with the Single-A High Desert Mavericks. He was promoted to the Double-A Wichita Wranglers after posting a 9.00 ERA in eight games. He had his contract purchased by the big league club on May 9, 2005, and made his major league debut on the same day.

Along with teammates Ambiorix Burgos and Andrew Sisco, they were the first trio of rookie pitchers in Major League history to throw at least 50.0 innings each without making a start. Núñez finished the by|2005 season with a 3-2 record and a 7.55 ERA in 41 games.

In by|2006, Núñez played for the Wranglers, for the Triple-A Omaha Royals, and at the major league level. He only played in seven major league games in 2006, with a 4.73 ERA.

In by|2007, he was converted back into a starting pitcher.

On June 22, 2007, Núñez would have been traded to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Milton Bradley. However according to the Royals report, Bradley was injured at the time, and the trade was voided. [Kaegel, Dick. [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070622&content_id=2043699&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak "Bradley-to-Royals deal voided"] , "MLB.com", June 22, 2007. Accessed September 10, 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nunezle01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=434663 MLB.com Player Profile]
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/N/Leo-Nunez.shtml The Baseball Cube Player Profile]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7541 ESPN.com Player Profile]
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7541 Yahoo Player Profile]