Juan Nuñez, the young shortstop initially acquired by the San Diego Padres in the latest Rule 5 Draft, has been returned to his original team, the Baltimore Orioles. The Padres, after assessing their roster needs during spring training, decided that Nuñez’s developmental path would be better served continuing with Baltimore’s organization. Nuñez, known for his defensive versatility and promising bat speed, drew significant attention throughout the offseason for his potential impact, but the Padres ultimately opted not to retain him on their 26-man roster.

The decision underscores the strategic challenges teams face in balancing immediate major league contributions with long-term player development. Key factors that influenced the Padres’ move included:

  • Roster flexibility: The need to maintain depth across multiple positions.
  • Player readiness: Assessing…