In keeping tabs on things down at Triple-A Indianapolis, the top farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates, there’s a relatively unknown prospect starting to make a name for himself.

Malcom Nuñez is off to a hot start in Triple-A, and if he continues this run he’s on, he could force the Pirates into seeing what he can do at the major league level. Nuñez might not be someone you’ve heard a lot about. Despite only recently turning 24, Nuñez is not typically listed on top prospect lists for the Pirates.

Like almost any batting prospect that has made their major league debut with Pittsburgh, Nuñez’s development did not begin within the Pirates organization.

The right-handed hitter was a part of a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2022, when Pirates general manager Ben Cherington sent lefty starter Jose Quintana and righty reliever Chris Stratton to the Cardinals for righty Johan Oviedo and Nuñez.

Oviedo had a alright run with Pittsburgh after the trade. As a Pirate, Oviedo pitched a little over 200 innings during the end of 2022 and all of 2023. He recorded a 4.15 ERA and 1.358 WHIP, including a nine-inning shutout performance in August of 2023.

Unfortunately for Oviedo and the Pirates, an arm injury and subsequent surgery has kept him out ever since, costing him over a year of his career. Oviedo is expected to return to the mound at some point this season, but a timetable is still not clear.

Meanwhile, the Pirates also got Nuñez in the deal.