3 NY Mets prospects who could be this year’s Dedniel Nunez

Anyone who envisioned Dedniel Nunez becoming such a big part of the New York Mets bullpen last year needs to share their secrets with the rest of the world. At age 27, he made his debut in early April and became a regular fixture on the roster for the remainder of the year while healthy. A 2.31 ERA to go along with other excellent numbers, notable 2.1 walks per 9 and 12.3 strikeouts per 9, Nunez was a pleasant surprise from the Mets farm system we didn’t have on our radar.

Nunez’s career began back in 2017 and after a brief stint with the San Francisco Giants, where he didn’t actually play, he returned to the Mets. The numbers didn’t shake the earth—hardly making a swivel chair hobble. But last year, a strong beginning in Triple-A, had the Mets turning to him for help. They were rewarded for their patience and belief in him.

What about this year? Could there be another long-tenured Mets pitching prospect on the verge of sneaking his way into our hearts and onto the roster?

1) Joander Suarez

Now 25, Joander Suarez is younger than Nunez was last year but his career is almost as long. He pitched his first game for the Mets back in 2018 and has put together a mixed bag of results ever since. Health hasn’t always been on his side. However, over the last two years, Suarez has been pitching a ton and eating up innings on the farm. The last two seasons have included much greater sample sizes, paving a way for him to become more than just another minor leaguer.

Suarez was 7-9 with a 4.24 ERA in 2023 while working in 108.1 innings. Last year, in 128.1 innings accrued mostly in Double-A, he was 10-6 with a 4.49 ERA. Getting rough-housed with 12 earned runs against him in 9 Triple-A frames did a lot of damage to his overall numbers. With Binghamton, he had a 3.92 ERA.

Suarez has worked primarily as a starter so a role change would be the logical way for him to get any innings with the Mets this year. Still a hill to climb at the Triple-A level to prove he can handle himself there, we might be looking at him as more of a consideration for the 2026 season rather than this coming year. Roughed up with 2 earned runs in his lone spring training inning, we can't hold it against him.