Mets reliever Dedniel Núñez showing signs of returning to form

After bursting onto the scene with his electrifying fastball-slider combination, Núñez quickly established himself as one of the Mets’ most important relievers during the early months of their season turnaround en route to the playoffs.

In 25 games, Núñez pitched 35 innings and struck out 48 batters while posting a stellar 2.31 ERA. He thrived in various roles, whether tasked with multiple innings or called upon in high-pressure situations with runners on base. Unfortunately, Núñez was sidelined for the remainder of the year due to a strained flexor tendon in his pitching arm.

His strong showing Thursday offered a promising glimpse of the pitcher he once was and could be again moving forward.

The hard-throwing right-hander spoke to reporters after the game, explaining how tonight’s performance felt different for him.

"My confidence was at an all-time high after that first strikeout. After I struck out Olson there, I almost felt liberated, I almost felt free at that moment," Núñez said. "I'm proud of myself, that I felt like I'm finally me again."

The Mets’ bullpen has faced ongoing challenges this season, marked by inconsistency and a revolving door of pitchers moving between the majors and minors.

In this context, the return of Núñez to his dominant form represents a significant opportunity for the team. His electric pitching and demonstrated poise in high-leverage moments could provide the stability and reliability the bullpen desperately needs to close out games and improve the team’s chances down the stretch.