Leo Núñez

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**Leo Núñez**

Kansas City Royals — No. 46
Relief pitcher
Born: August 14, 1983 (1983-08-14) (age 24)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
May 9, 2005 for the Kansas City Royals
Selected MLB statistics (through 2007)
Win-loss	5-6
ERA	5.77
Strikeouts	76
Teams
Kansas City Royals (2005-present)

Leonel Núñez (born August 14, 1983 in Jamao Norte, Dominican Republic) is a pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Kansas City Royals. He bats and throws right handed.

Núñez was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an undrafted free agent on February 16, 2000.

From 2001 to 2004, 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 2005 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, 2005, 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. Núñez finished the 2005 season with a 3-2 record and a 7.55 ERA in 41 games.

In 2006, Núñez played for the Wranglers, for the Triple-A Omaha Royals, and at the major league level. He only played in seven major league games in 2006, with a 4.73 ERA.

In 2007, he was converted back into a starting pitcher.

On June 22, 2007, Núñez 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.^[1]