Amid a disappointing season, the Baltimore Orioles held a fire sale ahead of baseball’s annual trade deadline.
Two of the prospects the Orioles acquired in those deals are right-handed relief pitcher Anthony Nunez and infielder Brandon Butterworth. Nunez was part of the Cedric Mullins deal with the New York Mets, while Butterworth was part of the Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano trade with the San Diego Padres.
Nunez, 24, was an infielder prior to joining the Mets organization, dating back to his days at the University of Tampa and in the Padres organization. The Mets converted him to a full-time pitcher when they signed him to a minor league contract in 2024.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander has posted a 1.97 ERA in 45.2 minor league innings in 2025, striking out 67 and walking 19.
“I always knew I had a pretty decent arm, and I always wanted to mess around with pitching honestly when I was in college and even high school,” Nunez said on Glenn Clark Radio August 8. “I never had the opportunity. … God opened the right door for me to be able to start pitching and had me throw in front of the right people.”
Nunez briefly appeared with Double-A Chesapeake after the trade and was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 5. He secured his first save with the Tides two days later. Nunez said he would embrace the closer role if the team needed him.
“Any way I can help the team win, that’s what I’m there for. I love the adrenaline of being in there late-game,” Nunez said. “Closing the game out, I love the idea of that, and I love every opportunity I get to showcase that.”
Nunez said that he didn’t expect to get moved at the deadline, but he was mentally prepared for it. His familiarity with a few of the players in the organization also likely makes the transition easier. He’s known fellow South Florida natives Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Coby Mayo since he was 10 years old, when they all played for the same travel team.
“We definitely have stayed in touch. Funny story is that Coby actually gave me my nickname, which is ‘Nuney’ from my last name,” Nunez said.
Though Bradfield, Mayo and Nunez always believed they were good ballplayers, they weren’t sure they’d make the major leagues, let alone reunite in the same organization.
“Bradfield and I, last weekend, were actually talking about how out of all the people that were on that team … we were probably the two that were least expected to make it to where we are now,” Nunez said.
Butterworth, however, wasn’t as familiar with his new teammates. The 5-foot-10, 168-pound infielder was “in shock” when he learned he was being traded to Baltimore, especially after growing comfortable in High-A Fort Wayne in his first year of pro ball.
“All the guys are some of my best friends now. The coaches, the players, I was getting really close to them,” Butterworth said on GCR Aug. 7. “When I got that call, everybody was sad — and I was definitely sad that I was leaving all them. But then my mind kind of opened up, because it was a new opportunity and it was going to an organization that wanted me.”
One of the best parts of the move for Butterworth is how much closer he is to his home of Charlotte, N.C.
“It was awesome. My brother immediately was like, ‘We’re coming for [your] birthday.’ My birthday is coming up in about a month, so they immediately got tickets to come there,” Butterworth said. “My aunt and my mom are going to come see me in a little bit, too, which is always good because I haven’t seen them in a while.”
The 22-year-old grew even more excited when he learned the Orioles were sending him to Double-A Chesapeake. Butterworth is slashing .265/.413/.429 in 14 games with the Baysox. He has played shortstop, second base, center fielder and designated hitter in his brief time in Double-A.
In Fort Wayne, Butterworth primarily played second base because he shared the infield with shortstop Leo De Vries, who was traded to the Athletics as the centerpiece of the Mason Miller deal. He also occasionally played in the outfield.
Butterworth still believes shortstop is his calling.
“I definitely started to get more comfortable at second base for a little bit, but I think my heart always is going to land at short,” Butterworth said. “I’ve played it my whole life growing up and I think that’s where I’m most comfortable.”
For more from Nunez, listen to the full interview here:
For more from Butterworth, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credits: Courtesy of the Norfolk Tides and Joe Noyes/Chesapeake Baysox