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Try it freeDedniel Núñez is just about fully built up.
The Mets will have to decide whether that means the powerful righty will be called up soon or whether he needs to show more with Triple-A Syracuse.
Núñez threw 28 pitches in a scoreless inning Thursday and was expected to use Friday as a recovery day.
It is possible, but not nearly definite, that Núñez will be summoned in the coming days.
“Now it’s a matter of, ‘OK, when do we call him up?’” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets played the Cardinals at Citi Field.
Núñez has pitched in six games with Syracuse, going as deep as two innings.
He has shown good stuff, striking out eight in six innings.
He has checked off most of the boxes but not all of them.
In his past two outings and 1 ²/₃ innings, Núñez has walked five (which partially explains the 28-pitch night).
He has not been sharp, and the Mets might ask for him to throw more strikes before welcoming him back to Queens.
Núñez was brought along slowly this spring after his 2024 season ended early because of forearm tightness.
He appeared in just two Grapefruit League games, the Mets inching him along in hopes of lowering the chances of incurring an elbow injury.
Núñez has done everything asked of him except consistently throw strikes at the lower level.
Meanwhile, the club’s big-league bullpen entered play with a 2.09 ERA, the team’s greatest strength through the first three weeks of the season.
If and when Núñez arrives, the Mets would have to send away an arm such as Max Kranick, Huascar Brazobán or Reed Garrett (who have all been brilliant but can be optioned) or Danny Young (who would be exposed to waivers).
Jeff McNeil conducted a one-day center field experiment Thursday and is expected to resume taking reps in the infield with Double-A Binghamton.
“We all saw the play he made [in center],” Mendoza said of McNeil, who made a sliding grab with Low-A St. Lucie. “Overall, I thought he played well.”
The Mets wanted to give McNeil a look at the spot after Jose Siri fractured his tibia.
Top prospect Brandon Sproat made his best start with Syracuse, throwing six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, a walk and striking out one against the Blue Jays’ affiliate.
Sproat owns a 3.31 ERA in four Triple-A starts.