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The Giants are coming away from the virtual Winter Meetings with a pair of righty pitchers. But Thursday’s addition is far more a project than Tuesday’s.
After the Giants signed veteran Matt Wisler to a major league deal ealier this week, they used Thursday’s first-round pick on Dedniel Nunez, out of the Mets organization, in the Rule 5 draft.
No Giants prospects were taken for a second straight year, the club shielding four by adding them to the 40-man roster, and they added a raw prospect yet again. Last year’s pick, Dany Jimenez, was returned to the Blue Jays after two appearances (and was picked again by the A’s this year).
Nunez, a 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic, is listed as 6-foot-2, 180 pounds and had been primarily a starter with the Mets since debuting in pro ball in 2017. He hasn’t pitched above High-A and posted a 4.39 ERA with 94 strikeouts and 23 walks in 80 innings split between Low- and High-A in 2019.
He reportedly carries a low-to-mid 90s fastball with a high spinrate and a low-80s curveball as his primary offerings. The Giants likely will want to see how he fares as a reliever, their bullpen righty needy and the possibility there that his stuff will crank up in short bursts.
Rule 5 picks — at least in the major league portion — need to stay on an active roster the entire season to remain under control of their drafting team. So the Giants cannot demote Nunez or else he would be offered back to the Mets.
Giants selected RHP RHP Dedniel Núñez (24.6Y, 6'2" 180) in the Rule 5 draft. 2016 IFA signing by NYM.
2019 (A+): 57.2IP 59H 20BB 61K 3.12 FIP. 92-94 FV t96, plus spin, average slurvy breaking ball, avg CH, iffy command. Ended 2019 with shoulder injury.pic.twitter.com/FhNaGTELaY— GPT (@giantsprospects) December 10, 2020
The first round wrapped up in just under 15 minutes while done via conference call — it’s not the event the NFL draft is — though the minor league portion was active.
Players selected in the second version become immediate members of the new organization. The Giants drafted three prospects: Rockies outfielder Vince Fernandez, Cardinals righty Ronnie Williams and Mets second baseman Mitchell Tolman. They also lost Jalen Miller, a 2015 second-round pick, to the Braves.
Fernandez, from Livermore, is reputed to have good power, having swatted 24 home runs in 499 High-A plate appearances in 2018. He also struck out 172 times that year. He was suspended 50 games in 2019 for testing positive for amphetamine.
Williams was a 2014 second-round pick but hasn’t made it above Double-A. As a reliever in 2019, he posted a 4.01 ERA split between High- and Double-A, striking out 58 and walking 29 in 58 1/3 innings.
Tolman, an Irvine native, was a recent Mets signing but came up with Pittsburgh, where he was a flexible infielder without much power. In five minor league seasona, he has a .266/.364/.378 slashline.
Miller, also a do-it-all infielder, will go home. The Georgia native stole 27 bases in 135 games for Double-A Richmond in 2019 but did not hit enough for the Giants to protect him.