Leo Núñez
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Oviedo) is a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who plays for the Miami Marlins as the team's closer
. He bats and throws right-handed.
as an undrafted free agent
on February 16, . From to , he was a mainly used as a starting pitcher
in the Pirates system. On December 16, 2004, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals
for catcher
Benito Santiago
.
After being traded to the Royals, he was converted to a full-time relief pitcher
. He began the season with the Single-A High Desert Mavericks
. He was promoted to the Double-A Wichita Wranglers
after posting a 9.00 ERA
in eight games. He had his contract purchased by the big league club on May 9, , and made his major league debut on the same day.
Along with teammates Ambiorix Burgos
and Andrew Sisco, they were the first trio of rookie pitchers in major league history to throw at least 50.0 innings each without making a start. Oviedo finished the 2005 season with a 3–2 record and a 7.55 ERA in 41 games.
In , Oviedo played for the Double-A Wranglers, Triple-A Omaha Royals
, and at the major league level. He only played in seven major league games in , with a 4.73 ERA.
In , he was converted back into a starting pitcher.
On June 22, 2007, Oviedo would have been traded to the Oakland Athletics
for outfielder
Milton Bradley. However according to the Royals report, Bradley was injured at the time, and the trade was voided.
After the season, Oviedo was traded by the Royals to the Florida Marlins for first baseman
Mike Jacobs. In 2009, Núñez became the Marlins closer after Matt Lindstrom was placed on the disabled list in late June. He finished the season with 26 saves.
and not Jamao al Norte
. Núñez was Oviedo's best friend since childhood. Oviedo assumed the new identity in order to receive a more lucrative contract while appearing to be 16 years old instead of 17. Marlins reliever Edward Mujica
, a close friend of Oviedo's, said that "[a]t 17 years old, you maybe lose $100,000 or $150,000 when you sign [compared to a 16-year-old with the same skills]. And if you're like 18, you might sign for $5,000 and maybe they give you an opportunity."
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who plays for the Miami Marlins as the team's closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
. He bats and throws right-handed.
Playing career
Oviedo was originally signed by the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on February 16, . From to , he was a mainly used as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in the Pirates system. On December 16, 2004, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
for catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played for twenty seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably for the San Diego Padres...
.
After being traded to the Royals, he was converted to a full-time relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He began the season with the Single-A High Desert Mavericks
High Desert Mavericks
The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball team in Adelanto, California, USA. Their Major League parent club is the Seattle Mariners. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and had been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2005 before the switch...
. He was promoted to the Double-A Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
after posting a 9.00 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in eight games. He had his contract purchased by the big league club on May 9, , and made his major league debut on the same day.
Along with teammates Ambiorix Burgos
Ambiorix Burgos
Ambiorix Burgos is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Career:In , Burgos made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals and appeared in 59 games as a relief pitcher. Despite pitching only 60 innings, he managed to be 10th in the league in wild pitches...
and Andrew Sisco, they were the first trio of rookie pitchers in major league history to throw at least 50.0 innings each without making a start. Oviedo finished the 2005 season with a 3–2 record and a 7.55 ERA in 41 games.
In , Oviedo played for the Double-A Wranglers, Triple-A Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
, and at the major league level. He only played in seven major league games in , with a 4.73 ERA.
In , he was converted back into a starting pitcher.
On June 22, 2007, Oviedo would have been traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Milton Bradley. However according to the Royals report, Bradley was injured at the time, and the trade was voided.
After the season, Oviedo was traded by the Royals to the Florida Marlins for first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Mike Jacobs. In 2009, Núñez became the Marlins closer after Matt Lindstrom was placed on the disabled list in late June. He finished the season with 26 saves.
Name controversy
On September 22, 2011, the Miami Marlins placed the then-Núñez on the restricted list without listing a reason. The Associated Press reported that his real name was Juan Carlos Oviedo, that he was a year older than listed, and that he returned to the Dominican Republic to deal with the issue. Dominican Central Electoral Commission President Roberto Rosario said that Oviedo signed a sworn statement saying he used fake identification documents. Dominican consul general Manuel Felipe Almanzar said Oviedo was from BonaoBonao
Bonao is the capital of Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic. It is located in the center of the country, to the northwest of the national capital Santo Domingo.The city is known as "Villa De Las Hortensias" - the town of hortensias...
and not Jamao al Norte
Jamao al Norte
Jamao al Norte is a town in the Espaillat province of the Dominican Republic. Is one of the most uprising town in moca. In 1997 five young men moved to Jamao for six months and put the town on the map with their legendary shenanigans...
. Núñez was Oviedo's best friend since childhood. Oviedo assumed the new identity in order to receive a more lucrative contract while appearing to be 16 years old instead of 17. Marlins reliever Edward Mujica
Edward Mujica
Edward José Mujica [moo-HE-cah] is a right-handed relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball.-Cleveland Indians:Mujica originally signed with the Cleveland Indians as an undrafted free agent in...
, a close friend of Oviedo's, said that "[a]t 17 years old, you maybe lose $100,000 or $150,000 when you sign [compared to a 16-year-old with the same skills]. And if you're like 18, you might sign for $5,000 and maybe they give you an opportunity."