hiː dʒˈɔɪnd ðə sənt. lˈuːi kˈɑːɹdɪnəlz ˈɪn , ænd wɪð ɐ mˈɪd sˈiːzən ˈɪndʒɚɹi tə θˈɜːd bˈeɪsmən skˈɑːt ɹˈoʊlən, nˈuːnjɛz sˈɔː hɪz plˈeɪɪŋ tˈaɪm ˈɪŋkɹiːs, bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ ðɪ ˈɛvɹɪdˌeɪ stˈɑːɹɾɚɹ æt θˈɜːd bˈeɪs fɚðə ɹˈɛst ʌvðə sˈiːzən ænd ðə plˈeɪɔfs.
He joined the St. Louis Cardinals in , and with a mid season injury to third baseman Scott Rolen, Núñez saw his playing time increase, becoming the everyday starter at third base for the rest of the season and the playoffs.