Georgia: Doubleheader With Nasim Nunez
March 4, 2019
CUMMING, GA—Compiling quality at-bats from a prospect can be tough, especially when opposing pitchers avoid giving them anything to hit. So when you can take in a doubleheader for one player, it’s a no brainer. SS Nasim Nunez (Collins Hill HS, GA) played two on Saturday afternoon and was our last stop in Georgia before departing.
At the Tournament of Stars and East Coast Pro showcase last summer, he checked in at about 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, but says he’s now 163. He packs a punch in his smaller frame with wiry strength and twitchiness.
In the first game, he hit exclusively from the left side and led off with a double down the left field line, making the turn in about 4.5 seconds and arriving at second base in about 8.1. He has plus pure speed and accelerates well, becoming a threat every time he’s on base. He is aggressive, hardly waiting long to steal a bag. He singled back up the middle in his second at-bat before being intentionally walked and striking out in his final two of the first game.
A Clemson recruit, Nunez starts with a relaxed, balanced set-up and takes a smooth load back with a small toe tap and short stride from the left side. The right side is similar, though with a slightly longer stride. He has average bat speed and stays short to the ball. In the second game, he flipped around to the right side for three plate appearances with a southpaw on the mound. He walked twice and grounded out once before going back to the left side in his final at-bat. He grounded into a double play, though a bogus call prevented it from being a fielder’s choice.
Nunez is very athletic and it shows up on defense. He had a couple errors in the second game, but shined defensively in the first. He ranged to his right to backhand a ball, make a quick exchange and throw on the run for an out. He then caught a line drive, got rid of the ball quickly and used his above average arm strength to double a guy off first. He shows smooth actions on the turn at second base on the pivot and ranged well up the middle on a ball, spinning and throwing to first, though the first baseman pulled his foot.