ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME

July 8, 2023

Nasim Nunez

T-Mobile Park

NL Futures

MVP Futures Game Press Conference

NL Futures - 5, AL Futures - 0

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Nasim. If anybody wants to start with the first question.

Q. What was it like to find out you were going to play in this game and then what is it like to be sitting up here accepting the MVP award?

NASIM NUNEZ: No, it was, I won't say it's a shock, but it was like wow, kind of last year I really wanted to come here pretty bad and I didn't get selected. Then this year I was like, I'm not going to focus on it. I'm going to just play my game and work on my development.

Then when my coaches told me I was coming here I was like, that's crazy. So it's an honor and something I worked for. I enjoyed every moment.

Q. How do you feel the Marlins organization having a great year, this is another great point for the Marlins this year.

NASIM NUNEZ: You know, it's good to see. You hear everything about the Marlins, and I've always said ever since I got grafted me and my dad always said, the Marlins are going to be a championship team. I don't know how long it's going to take but it's going to happen, and I'm going to be part of that, if God allows me.

But it's exciting to see. See the progress and the development that's happened within the organization. Can't beat it.

Q. What was the atmosphere like? Have you ever played in front of a crowd that big before?

NASIM NUNEZ: Honestly, I don't know. Like I just, I know when there's a lot of people and when there's nobody in the seats. That's the biggest difference. But I took the advice that was given to me before the game today and looked around the stadium, looked in the sky, looked at the dirt, looked at everything and I took it all in, and it was just amazing. Everything you could really dream of.

Q. Who from your family was able to be here today?

NASIM NUNEZ: Man, my mom was here, my little brother, my girlfriend, my dad, her dad, family friend, my uncle, and my grandpa who just passed away. So he's always with me now at the games, so...

Q. I know I've read an interview about you before that you said your dad loved Ken Griffey Jr. What did it feel like to play in a ballpark in this city that he is so well known for and then you were able to contribute in such a big way here?

NASIM NUNEZ: It was cool. I wasn't really thinking about it. I met Ken when I was like 17 at the MLB Breakthrough Series. So as soon as I saw him, I just looked at him and I said, You remember me? He made me take off my hat and then he remembered me.

But it's still cool to be here.

Q. So take us through the at-bat. As you're standing on second after driving in three are you thinking, maybe I'll win the MVP?

NASIM NUNEZ: No, (laughing). MVP never crossed my mind until I got in the dugout and people started talking that talk like You're MVP. I was like, all right, all right, all right. Chill.

But the at-bat when I went up to the plate, it was just a regular at-bat. I did my breathing on deck, focused, picked up the ball out of the hand and was just ready to hit the ball. I think the first pitch he called a strike on me was a ball, but he threw it in the same spot and I swung this time and I got a double. So thank you.

Q. Saw a lot of guys stealing bases, decided to grab one yourself too?

NASIM NUNEZ: Yeah, I just wanted to jump in there. (Laughing).

Q. You talked about being around Ken Griffey, these coaching staffs were pretty loaded. Did you have a connection with any of them on the National side?

NASIM NUNEZ: It's a baseball connection. We all play the game. We all play this wonderful game and we all love and enjoy it. But not anything personal. I had a couple -- I saw Jerry Manuel, that's my OG. So it was good to see him today. I have a very good connection with him.

But I seen Ken around the way and some other people, but nothing crazy.

Q. You're known primarily for your defense and speed. Sort of ironic to win this MVP award for a three-run double?

NASIM NUNEZ: Nope. Nope. It's baseball.

Q. You said you looked around, looked in the dirt, looked at the stands. Does playing a game like this get you more excited or thinking about your future and getting to the Big Leagues and this kind of thing help make that more?

NASIM NUNEZ: No. That's why I looked at the dirt. So I know where my feet are.

Q. And somebody was talking about your cleats. Can you tell us about them?

NASIM NUNEZ: Yeah, so two weeks, maybe like a week and a half ago my grandfather passed away, and he's the one who put the bat and ball in my hands. Esta en la sangre is what he always used to say. "It's in the blood." He'd always yell at me, "hit the ball, hit the ball. Uppercut, uppercut." All this stuff, and he passed away from lung cancer and prostate cancer.

So this game was really for him. Everything in the future's going to be for him as well, and I know he's always going to be with me. It's still hard, but got to go with it.

Q. What's his name?

NASIM NUNEZ: Jose.

Q. Nunez?

NASIM NUNEZ: Yeah.

Q. I believe your bio says you're from the Bronx but went to high school in Georgia. When did you move to Georgia? What age were you?

NASIM NUNEZ: Probably like four. I was born in the Bronx. I'm from Georgia.

Q. Can you just speak to the athletic hot bed talent that is the Atlanta area. Did you play against Druw Jones or with him at some point?

NASIM NUNEZ: Yeah, actually no, I never played against Druw. I never did anything with Druw. We just, I think it was mutual respect between us. We worked with the same trainer. But Druw's, I've seen Druw. I haven't played baseball with him or anything. But, no, Druw a dog. He's going to be him.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thanks, Nasim. We appreciate it. Congratulations.