Anthony Nunez knew that he’d get an opportunity to pitch in the majors this season. That’s the type of confidence that he carries with him. Being only a few years removed from playing the infield wouldn’t hold him back.

But making the Opening Day roster after the Orioles optioned him to minor league camp on March 8?

That was a little faster than he anticipated.

Nunez was told last night that he’d made the club as an injury replacement for reliever Keegan Akin, who suffered a left groin strain while warming in the bullpen Saturday at Ed Smith Stadium.

“There’s always a chance for that to happen,” Nunez said today at his locker at Camden Yards, before the Orioles headed outdoors for their workout. “It’s a great feeling just being here and being with the guys, help the team win.

“I can’t express my feelings right now. It’s just so much excitement so much gratitude, and just ready to go.”

Nunez already left, but he’s allowed to be recalled if replacing an injured player. He made a solid impression with five scoreless innings, no walks and six strikeouts.

Asked what he showed in spring training, Nunez replied, “I think everything, on the field and off the field.”

“Just being able to be a pro,” he said. “Doing whatever I can to be the best version of myself every day and just trusting in my stuff.”

Manager Craig Albernaz said the team still talked about Nunez after he was sent out, keeping him in mind if a need suddenly arose.

“First and foremost what stands out is just his maturity, his demeanor,” Albernaz said. “Always in control of his emotions every single day. The stuff is real. I like the strike quality. I actually love the strike quality. Does a great job with runners on base, controlling the running game. So all those little things he does really well.

“Kind of the way everything unfolded with Keegan’s injury and stuff, has an opportunity to come in and make an impact for us. We’re excited for him.”

The possibility of debuting early in 2026 always seemed realistic to Nunez, 24, who came to the Orioles in the Cedric Mullins deadline trade with the Mets and posted a 3.45 ERA and 0.894 WHIP in 16 games with Triple-A Norfolk, striking out 21 batters in 15 2/3 innings.

“You really don’t know,” he said. “All you can do is do everything you can do and put your part in, and whatever they decide is on them. It’s just doing what you can.”

True, but the Opening Day roster after the team optioned him?

“No, I didn’t expect it to be this quick,” he said, smiling.

“But you know, God’s plan never fails and it’s just being where your feet are.”

They used to get covered in infield dirt until 2024 in the Mets system. Nunez moved to the mound and his career took off. He’s averaged 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings in two minor league seasons.

A 29th-round draft pick in 2019 out of Miami Springs High School is a big leaguer.

“I mean, it’s been a ridiculous journey,” he said. “Everything that’s happened in my career has led to this point. There’s been a lot of sacrifices, a lot of hardships, and it’s a lot of gratitude that I have in my heart.”

The pitching mindset for Nunez is to trust his stuff, be aggressive and stay ahead in the count, understanding that hitting is hard. He slashed .217/.369/.307 with two home runs in 122 minor league games.

He’s also learning that debuts draw hordes of family and friends to the ballpark.

“There’s a lot of people coming up here,” he said, the smile returning to his face.

Albernaz said the final roster decisions were extremely difficult. The Orioles kept Yaramil Hiraldo, reassigned Albert Suárez and designated hard-throwing Jackson Kowar for assignment. They gave the utility infield job to Jeremiah Jackson, designated Bryan Ramos for assignment and reassigned Weston Wilson.

“A lot of hard conversations with the guys,” Albernaz said. “Obviously, there were some happy ones, as well. But they’re all tough when you make these decisions. All the guys that we informed that weren’t making the team, the ones that are staying with us, they’re going to make an impact for us. And that was the message that was conveyed. You’re just not on the Opening Day roster. But they were real tough decisions and that’s a credit to them, right? To the players.

“That’s the only thing you can do in this game. You can’t control everything, but the one thing you can control is how difficult a decision you can make it for us and our front office.”

Suárez returned to the Orioles on a minor league deal after injuries restricted him to only five appearances last season. He made a push for a roster spot and the Orioles value his ability to consume large chunks of innings.

Suárez didn’t exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.

“I think to keep a caliber of pitcher like Albert Suárez in the organization is huge for us,” Albernaz said. “I think as we’re looking at the bullpen construction and also our starters, as well, how that went about it, it just factored into that we just needed the depth of someone who’s stretched out in Triple-A. I think everyone’s seen last year with the injuries and stuff, you can never have enough starting pitching, so to have some of the caliber of Albert Suárez in Triple-A is huge for us.”

Jackson missed about a week in camp with a mild calf strain, but the bat got hot down the stretch and the Orioles played him at second base and in left field, rather than just in right field and at third base, his positions with them the last two months of the season. He has options but earned a job.

“The at-bat quality throughout camp,” Albernaz said when asked what stood out about Jackson. “There’s impact in the bat, as well. His ability to really step up and play second base was intriguing, as well. And also, he does have the ability to kick out to the outfield, too. So having that versatility is huge, and with J.J., he has a lot of upside in his game. And it’s his first Opening Day roster, so it’s one of the happy one. We’re excited for him.”

Jackson received the good news yesterday after working out.

“They called me in and just kind of gave me a little rundown and told me I’d be on the team,” he said.

“I didn’t know. I was pretty 50-50. Obviously, I thought that I did my best to earn a spot. Obviously, there’s a lot things that happen outside of our control, but yeah, I was excited.

“It’s one of those things where I didn’t know where my career was going to go two offseasons ago, and then to be able to be on the Opening Day roster, it’s a surreal feeling, for sure.”

Albernaz didn’t know how long Akin and outfielder Heston Kjerstad (hamstring) would be out. Kjerstad probably would have been optioned if healthy, but he’s on the injured list with a right hamstring strain.

“You guys are big on timelines, huh?” Albernaz said. “One day at a time. They’ll contribute when they’re healthy.

“That’s the biggest thing we want these guys to be healthy. I think a lot of questions on timelines and stuff, I don’t like putting timelines on players’ injuries just because the biggest thing is the players’ health. Like, they have to come back at 100 percent. And I think you start putting timelines on guys, they want to push to that and negate what’s actually the main thing. And the main thing for these guys is getting back to being healthy, not to get to a timeline.”

Outfielder Dylan Beavers avoided the IL after testing his right knee with batting practice, running the bases and performing other baseball activities yesterday.

“It was good,” he said. “I just peeled back a little bit on activity that was kind of irritating it and hammered some treatment out to try to strengthen and stabilize all the other areas around the quad and the knee. But it’s felt a lot better.

“It means the world. Last year was awesome, but you’ve got to earn it again every year. I’m happy with how the spring went. I wish I didn’t have a little setback at the end, but I’m stoked to be here and excited for the year.”

Beavers didn’t know he’d be on the club until Albernaz told him in Tampa. The manager showed up later than intended because of traffic and Beavers quickly informed him about the sore knee. He was on the training table as Albernaz confirmed the Opening Day spot.

“I was pretty ecstatic about it,” Beavers said.

“I had basically went through BP and everything and I had tried to run on a line before BP, but my knee was bugging me a little bit. So immediately I went to him and told him where I was at so that they could get everything figured out. He told me probably five minutes after that.

“It was pretty awesome. It was surprising. That’s not where you expect to be when you hear that.”