Leo Nunez Hits Restricted List with ID Issue

Leo Nunez has been placed on the Florida Marlins restricted list due to his reported identification issues.  Nunez returned to his home in the Dominican and will sit out the remainder of the season without pay.

Apparently, since turning pro in 2000, Nunez has been playing under an assumed name and age.  Nunez’s real name is reportedly Juan Carlos Oviedo and his true age is 29, not 28 as had been believed.

It’s also being reported that the Marlins have known about Nunez’s situation for months.

After pitching for Florida Wednesday night, Nunez returned to the Dominican Thursday during the club’s scheduled off-day.  Nunez is said to be figuring out his identity and immigration issues stemming from the situation.  Exactly when Nunez will be able to return to the Marlins is currently unknown, but the right-hander will at least miss the rest of the 2011 season.

Nunez has been Florida’s closer since 2009, and got off to a solid start this season.  Nunez was able to complete his first 18 save opportunities, sporting an ERA of 2.59 over that span.

But since the beginning of June, Nunez’s performance had been erratic.  Nunez’s ERA ballooned to 3.72 by the end of the month, but rebounded to a more respectable 3.33 after a solid July.  Things again go rocky for Nunez in August, as the right-hander was hammered to the tune of 11 earned runs in only 8.2 innings of work.

Nunez again recovered, not allowing a run over his 7 appearances this month.  With the announcement of his suspension, Nunez finishes the year with an ERA of 4.06 and a 1.21 WHIP.  Nunez converted 36 of his 42 save opportunities and struck out 55 batters over his 64.1 innings pitched.

Even before word got out regarding Nunez’s ID problems, there were questions surrounding his return to the Marlins.  Last offseason, Nunez was awarded $3.65 million through arbitration.  2012 is the last year Nunez is eligible, and it is believed that he is in line for a payout near the $6 million mark.

For this reason, the Marlins were believed to have been shopping Nunez this summer.  Now, with immigration issues looming, Nunez seems to be an even more likely non-tender candidate.

For more on the Marlins, be sure to check out Marlin Maniac.