The Mets lost right-handed pitching prospect Dedniel Nunez in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday, when the 24-year-old was selected by the San Francisco Giants.
Per the rules of the draft, the Giants must carry Nunez on their big league roster for the entire 2021 season or offer him back to the Mets for $50,000.
Since Nunez has yet to pitch above High-A ball, there is definitely a chance he could be offered back.
Nunez was ranked by SNY contributor Joe DeMayo as No. 17 on the Mets’ top 20 prospects list heading into the 2021 season, with DeMayo writing:
Nunez is likely ticketed for Double-A Binghamton to start the 2021 season and from there you never know if he could end up impacting the 2021 big league roster depending on how the depth shakes out in the starting rotation this offseason. Nunez looks the part of a No. 5 starter/swing man with a fastball that’ll touch 94 mph, an average curve, and slightly below-average changeup. Upside may not be high here, but I think he has a solid shot to be a big leaguer.
With their own selection in the Rule 5 Draft at No. 10, the Mets selected hard-throwing 22-year-old RHP Luis Oviedo from the Cleveland Indians but quickly traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo.
In the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft, the Mets selected OF Drew Ferguson from the Houston Astros.
