University of Tampa Alum Anthony Nunez Makes Major League Debut with Baltimore Orioles on 2026 Opening Day

BALTIMORE — University of Tampa baseball will add another Major Leaguer to its storied history as alumnus Anthony Nunez, a member of Tampa's 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship team, will make his Major League Baseball debut as a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles on Opening Day 2026.

Nunez emerged as one of the most compelling minor league pitching stories in recent years, highlighted by a rapid rise through the systems of both the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles. After signing with the Mets in 2024 as an undrafted free agent and converting from a position player to a full-time pitcher, Nunez quickly established himself as a dominant relief arm. He began his professional career at High-A Brooklyn, where he did not allow an earned run over 12.1 innings while striking out 20 batters, showcasing elite swing-and-miss ability despite being new to the mound. His success carried over to Double-A, where he continued to produce at a high level and quickly gained attention as a legitimate prospect.

At the 2025 trade deadline, Nunez was acquired by the Orioles in a deal for Cedric Mullins, and he continued his upward trajectory within their system. Following a brief stop in Double-A, he earned a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, where he posted a 3.45 ERA with 21 strikeouts and four saves across 16 appearances, further solidifying his reputation as a reliable late-inning option. His combination of athleticism, honed by his background as a position player, and his ability to generate strikeouts at a high rate allowed him to move quickly through multiple levels in a short period.

Nunez arrived at Tampa as a third baseman and quickly established himself as one of the premier defensive infielders in the Sunshine State Conference. Over three seasons, he appeared in 136 games, posting a career batting average of .267, an on‑base percentage of .404, and a slugging percentage of .426. He totaled 131 hits, 96 runs scored, 114 RBI, 43 extra‑base hits, and 17 home runs across his collegiate career.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Nunez added a new dimension to his game by transitioning to the mound. In his lone collegiate pitching campaign, he posted a 3.09 ERA across 11 appearances, striking out 20 batters in 11.2 innings, a dominant 15.43 K/9 rate, while allowing just 7 hits and 4 earned runs.

His standout play at Tampa earned him numerous honors, including 2024 D2CCA Second‑Team All‑South Region, 2024 All‑Sunshine State Conference Second Team, NCBWA South Region Player of the Week (April 17, 2024), Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week (April 15, 2024), 2023 ABCA/Rawlings All‑South Defensive Third Baseman, and 2023 All‑SSC Second Team.

Nunez joins Chicago White Sox pitcher Jordan Leasure as Spartans appearing on Major League Opening Day rosters. He becomes the 10th Tampa baseball alum to reach the big leagues, joined by Jeff Carter, Jordan Leasure, Charlie Manning, Tino Martinez, Sam Militello, Sammy Peralta, Lou Piniella, Mike Rabelo, and Ozzie Timmons.