Nunez has appeared in 14 games, amassing 55 plate appearances and slashing .189/.218/.472. Hill was out the minimum amount of time with a ribcage contusion.
Núñez has been in camp as a non-roster invitee. The 26-year-old has the ability to opt out of his minor league contract if he’d like to explore other opportunities.
The Nunez DFA caught some by surprise, given the 26-year-old’s 43 home runs for the O’s over the past two seasons and a modest arbitration projection as a first-time-eligible player.
A last-place finish in the American League East in 2017 convinced Orioles management the team needed to jettison vets and start over. This rebuilding project clearly is going to take awhile, Justin Mears writes.