At face value, it hasn’t been the smoothest of starts to the season for infielder Malcom Nuñez. His grand slam on Sunday was his first extra-base hit, in what was his 12th game played this season.
Even if the production hasn’t been there, he’s been doing his part, and putting himself in position to eventually have something break his way.
Nuñez’s home run clocked in at an exit velocity of 102.7 mph, the 12th batted ball he’s had that has traveled at least 95 mph off the bat to meet the criteria of being a ‘hard hit’.
Sit back and watch it soar.
Both his hard hit rate (34%), and average exit velocity (89.1 mph) are both right around major league average for their category. He’s just had some bad luck when it comes to the hard hit balls, with an average of just .461 on them.
According to an article on Baseball Savant, the average on hard hit balls is usually a tad over .500.
He’s also made very consistent contact, especially on fastballs, as Nuñez currently owns a very strong 13.5% whiff rate against the pitch. He’s struggled a bit against non-fastballs, sitting a tad under 40%.
Nuñez generally shows a very strong approach at the plate, and it’s been two games that has really impacted his whiff rate against non-fastballs in this early sample size.
In his brief time in the Pirates organization, he’s shown the ability to put stretches together of hitting for extra-bases. Everything about his exit velocity and contact metrics say that some sort of breakout should be coming.
— Shalin Polanco was MLB Pipeline’s pick to breakout in the Pirates system this season and put up a pretty good three game stretch after returning from an injury. The outfielder walked (5) more than he did strikeout (3) in 15 plate appearances, while also picking up three hits and a stolen base.
— Teammate of Nuñez in Indianapolis, Osvaldo Bido picked up nine strikeouts in five innings on Sunday, and currently has a 0.75 ERA in three appearances. He was one of a select few in the system to top 100 innings pitched last year and is off to a strong start again this year.
Daily Video Rundown
Henry Davis played his first game in right field on Sunday, and at the plate he hit his second home run of the season.
A solo shot from @henrydavis32 gets us on the board in the fourth inning! We trail Erie 3-1.
LISTEN: https://t.co/aioWvW3Svf
WATCH: https://t.co/6GP894jPtF pic.twitter.com/aiCbyXTqwR— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) April 16, 2023
Getting the start at second base on Sunday, Tsung-Che Cheng comes up with this great play to record the out.
Great play by Tsung-Che Cheng, playing second base today, to get the runner at first pic.twitter.com/h5HNnemm0q
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) April 16, 2023
PIRATES PROSPECTS DAILY
By Tim Williams
I took a few days off from baseball this weekend, just checking the site periodically. Yesterday, I got back in the mix, and after seeing Malcom Nuñez homer, I was really glad to read Anthony’s writeup today. Check out his writeup yesterday of what makes Endy Rodriguez so good.
Pirates Recap: Bucs Split Series With Cardinals After Extra Innings Loss
Prospect Watch: Henry Davis and Malcom Nuñez Homer; Osvaldo Bido Pitches Well in Relief
**Pirates Place Rob Zastryzny on Injured List; Recall Yohan Ramirez
SONG OF THE DAY
So lets just stay in the momentSmoke some weed, drink some wineReminisce, talk some shit, forever young is in your mindLeave a mark that can’t erase, neither space nor timeSo when the director yells cut we’ll be fine, ahSing
