Darien Núñez was part of the Los Angeles Dodgers setting a franchise record by using 39 different pitchers last season, and he was among those to make his MLB debut in 2021 as well.
The Cuban native began the year at the Dodgers’ alternate training site and earned a spot on Double-A Tulsa’s Opening Day roster. After making just one appearance with the Drillers, Núñez received a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The left-hander spent the next two months with the Dodgers’ top Minor League affiliate before joining the big league team prior to a July 8 matchup against the Miami Marlins.
Núñez wound up appearing in six games (one start) for L.A. last year and began the 2022 Minor League season with OKC. However, Núñez is due to undergo Tommy John surgery that was first reported by Francys Romer and confirmed by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Darien Núñez will need Tommy John surgery, source confirms what @francysromeroFR said yesterday. Made his debut last year, didn’t make Opening Day roster but is still on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) April 23, 2022
The Dodgers have not confirmed the report, but Oklahoma City did place Núñez on the seven-day injured list on April 14. The 28-year-old will miss the remainder of this season and potentially the start of the 2023 campaign as well.
Although Núñez went 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA while up with the Dodgers last season, he was a combined 7-0 with a 2.38 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 32 games between Tulsa and OKC.
The Dodgers signed Núñez in 2018.
Darien Núñez’s 2022 stats
After throwing two scoreless innings over a pair of Cactus League appearances in Spring Training, Núñez went 1-0 with a 7.71 ERA in three games for Oklahoma City.
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