The New York Mets have faced numerous problems in the 2024 season, but despite all of that, the blue and orange teams are still in the race for the playoffs as they are currently two games out of the final wildcard spot with a record of 67-61.

However, the organization has recently rebounded with Starling Marte and Reed Garrett returning from the injured list, and on Friday they activated a late-blooming relief pitcher from the 15-day injured list.

The Mets have activated Dedniel Núñez from the 15-day injured list

According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets have activated relief pitcher Dedniel Núñez from the 15-day injured list.

Núñez had been on the injured list since July 24 after suffering a strained right pronator. The 28-year-old had been slowly recovering over the past few weeks before finally making a rehab appearance for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, where he pitched a scoreless inning, allowed one hit and suffered a punchout.

Before his injury, the Dominican Republic native was one of the most outstanding surprise players and arguably the bullpen’s most valuable reliever since his MLB debut on April 9. Núñez pitched 33.1 innings in 24 appearances with a 2.43 ERA and a .930 WHIP while recording 45 strikeouts and one save.

What does this mean for the Mets?

The return of Núñez is a significant reinforcement for the Mets’ bullpen. Manager Carlos Mendoza’s circle of trust has shrunk in recent weeks, and the return of the 28-year-old gives the manager, in his first year, another reliable player to fall back on when the Mets are ahead.

Additionally, the Dominican native’s ability to throw strikes consistently is a welcome addition, as the bullpen often struggles in that area toward the end of the game.
Time will tell what role Núñez will fill immediately, but when the leaves start to change color, the 28-year-old should be one of the Mets’ best options out of the bullpen.