Renato Núñez is a Venezuelan third baseman from Valencia who made his MLB debut on September 12, 2016, and put his name on the map with 31 home runs, 90 RBI and a .771 OPS for the Baltimore Orioles in 2019. Now 32, he’s channeling that power back home in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP) with Navegantes del Magallanes.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Renato Núñez
- Position: Third base
- Team: Navegantes del Magallanes (LVBP)
- Number: 39
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 6’1″ / 220 lb
- Born: April 4, 1994 — Valencia, Venezuela 🇻🇪
- MLB debut: September 12, 2016
Background
Núñez grew up in Valencia, a city with deep baseball roots in Venezuela. He worked his way through the minor leagues as a right-handed hitter with legitimate power potential, and got his first taste of the big leagues in September 2016. Expectations were high for him to develop into an offensive force at the hot corner.
MLB Career
His time in the majors was a mixed bag. After a couple of seasons finding his footing, Núñez broke out in 2019 with Baltimore: .244 AVG, 31 HR, 90 RBI and a .771 OPS over 142 games — his career best and the high-water mark of his big-league run.
Consistency proved elusive after that. In the shortened 2020 season he hit .256 with 12 home runs in 57 games for the Orioles. Then in 2021 — his last MLB season — he posted a .189 average with just 4 home runs in 23 games for the Detroit Tigers, signaling the start of his transition to winter ball.
MLB Stats
- 2019 — Baltimore Orioles: .244 AVG | 31 HR | 90 RBI | 72 R | .771 OPS
- 2020 — Baltimore Orioles: .256 AVG | 12 HR | 31 RBI | 29 R | .816 OPS
- 2021 — Detroit Tigers: .189 AVG | 4 HR | 7 RBI | 7 R | .690 OPS
Life in the LVBP
Back in Venezuela, Núñez has been a fixture for Navegantes del Magallanes for several seasons. His best winter came in 2024-25: .311 AVG, 21 HR, 63 RBI and a 1.111 OPS in just 51 games — numbers that turned him into one of the most dangerous hitters in the league and showed the power that once made Baltimore take notice.
The 2025-26 campaign was a step back (.221 AVG, 10 HR in 49 games), but the current 2026-27 season has him looking sharp again: .320 AVG, 3 HR and a 1.135 OPS through 8 games. If he keeps that up, Núñez could be a major factor as Magallanes chases the Venezuelan winter title.
LVBP Stats
- 2026-27 — Navegantes del Magallanes: 8 G | .320 AVG | 3 HR | 7 RBI | 1.135 OPS
- 2025-26 — Navegantes del Magallanes: 49 G | .221 AVG | 10 HR | 20 RBI | .823 OPS
- 2024-25 — Navegantes del Magallanes: 51 G | .311 AVG | 21 HR | 63 RBI | 1.111 OPS
- 2023-24 — Navegantes del Magallanes: 31 G | .288 AVG | 5 HR | 27 RBI | .846 OPS
Fun Fact
At 32, Núñez’s best professional season didn’t come in the big leagues — it came at home. His 2024-25 LVBP line of .311 AVG, 21 HR and 63 RBI in 51 games is a reminder that great hitters don’t just disappear; sometimes they just find a better stage.
