Dom Nuñez Bio
Dominic Manuel Nuñez, known professionally as Dom Nuñez, is an American professional baseball catcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Cleveland Guardians and has also spent time in several other organizations at the Triple-A level. He was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB draft and made his major league debut with the Rockies in 2019.
Dom Nuñez Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Dominic Manuel Nuñez was born on January 17, 1995, and grew up in the Elk Grove, California area. He attended Elk Grove High School, where he played on the school’s baseball team as a shortstop. His time in the Elk Grove program helped him develop into a draft-eligible prospect after his senior year.
After high school, Nuñez committed to play college baseball at UCLA. He ultimately chose to begin his professional career right away, signing with the Colorado Rockies rather than enrolling at UCLA. That decision marked the start of a long professional journey through the minor leagues.
Before turning professional, Nuñez also represented the United States in international competition. He was a member of the U.S. squad that competed at the 2012 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul, an experience that placed him on the radar of major league scouting departments.
Dom Nuñez Path to Baseball
Path to Baseball
Nuñez’s path to professional baseball ran directly through the 2013 MLB draft. Scouts valued his defensive versatility, and the Colorado Rockies selected him in the sixth round out of Elk Grove High School. He signed with the organization instead of attending UCLA, choosing the professional route.
Early in his minor league career, Nuñez split his time between second base, shortstop, and catcher. Over the next several seasons, the Rockies transitioned him into a full-time catching role. That position change shaped the rest of his development and gave him a clearer path toward the major leagues.
Through steady offensive production and continued work behind the plate, Nuñez climbed the Colorado system. By 2019, he had reached Triple-A Albuquerque and was preparing for his first call to the majors.
Dom Nuñez Career
Early Career (2013-2018)
After signing with the Rockies, Nuñez was assigned to the Grand Junction Rockies, where he spent the entire 2013 season. He batted .200/.269/.323 in 195 at-bats with three home runs and 23 runs batted in (RBI) in 55 games, mostly playing second base and shortstop. He returned to Grand Junction in 2014 and improved sharply, slashing .313/.384/.517 with eight home runs and 40 RBI in 46 games while making a full-time move to catcher.
In 2015, he played for the Asheville Tourists and batted .282/.373/.448 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI in 104 games. He was named a 2015 MiLB.com Organization All-Star. He split 2016 with the Modesto Nuts, hitting .241/.321/.362 with ten home runs and 51 RBI in 105 games. Across 2017 and 2018 with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, he continued to refine his catching, batting .202/.335/.354 in 2017 and .222/.320/.343 in 2018.
Colorado Rockies Breakthrough (2019-2022)
Nuñez began 2019 with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, where he batted .244/.362/.559 with 17 home runs and 42 RBI in 213 at-bats. On August 13, 2019, the Rockies selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues. That same night, he made his MLB debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks and hit a home run off Yoan López for his first major league hit. In 21 games with Colorado that year, he went 7-for-43 at the plate.
He did not appear in a game during the shortened 2020 season but returned to the Rockies’ 2021 Opening Day roster as the backup catcher. In 2021, he hit .189/.293/.399 with ten home runs and 33 RBI across 81 games. He split 2022 between Albuquerque and the Rockies, batting .223/.319/.360 in Triple-A and going 4-for-33 in the majors before his time with the organization ended.
Cleveland Guardians Era (2024-Present)
After stops in the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates systems on minor league deals, Nuñez signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians on January 30, 2024. He spent that season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, slashing .202/.330/.339 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 68 games. He re-signed with Cleveland on a new minor league deal in December 2024.
In 2025, Nuñez was added to Cleveland’s active roster on June 6 after Austin Hedges suffered a concussion. He appeared in two games for the Guardians, going 2-for-7. On November 6, he was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Columbus. He rejected the assignment and elected free agency, then re-signed with Cleveland on another minor league contract on January 7, 2026.
Notable Events and Milestones
Nuñez’s signature MLB moment came on August 13, 2019, when he homered off Yoan López in his first major league game for the Colorado Rockies. He also represented the United States at the 2012 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul during his amateur career. Reaching the majors as a sixth-round pick out of Elk Grove High School stands as a defining milestone in his professional journey.
Dom Nuñez Career Wins
MLB and Minor League Highlights
Nuñez’s most celebrated major league performance came on debut night in 2019, when he launched a home run for his first MLB hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In parts of three seasons with the Rockies (2019, 2021-2022), he established himself as a steady backup catcher. His 2021 campaign, which included ten home runs and 33 RBI, was his most productive full major league season.
Dom Nuñez Family
Personal Life
Detailed information about Dominic Manuel Nuñez’s family life is not publicly available in verified sources. He is known to be an American professional baseball catcher who grew up in Elk Grove, California.
2025 Season Performance
Nuñez opened the 2025 season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on a minor league contract. Across 32 games at Columbus, he hit .136 with six home runs and 16 RBI. His strong power production in a short stretch helped him earn a major league opportunity.
On June 6, 2025, the Cleveland Guardians added Nuñez to the active roster after catcher Austin Hedges suffered a concussion. He appeared in two games for Cleveland, going 2-for-7 at the plate. He was later removed from the 40-man roster on November 6 and elected free agency before re-signing with the organization in January 2026.