Isan Díaz

Isan Xavier Díaz (born May 27, 1996) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball second baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers.

Isan Díaz
Díaz with the Miami Marlins in 2021
Free agent
Second baseman
Born: (1996-05-27) May 27, 1996
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 5, 2019, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.177
Home runs9
Runs batted in42
Teams

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Díaz in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2019 and played for them until 2021.

Early life

Díaz is originally from Puerto Rico, but his family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, when he was four years old.[1] His father, Raul, played college baseball and instructed Isan as a child.[2]

Díaz attended Springfield Central High School in Springfield. He committed to attend Vanderbilt University to play college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores.[3]

Professional career
Díaz with Garrett Cooper during spring training in 2019

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Díaz in the second round, with the 70th overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[4] Díaz signed with the Diamondbacks for a signing bonus of $750,000, rather than enroll at Vanderbilt.[2][5] They assigned him to the Arizona League Diamondbacks in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he posted a .187 average with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 49 games.

In 2015, Díaz played for the Missoula Osprey of the Rookie-level Pioneer League.[6] He was named the Diamondbacks' Minor League Player of the Month for July,[7] a mid-season and post-season Pioneer League All Star, and Most Valuable Player of the Pioneer League at the end of the season[8] after leading the league with 25 doubles and batting .360(8th in the league)/.436(7th)/.640(2nd) in 272 at bats with 58 runs (2nd), 6 triple (5th), 13 home runs (2nd), 51 RBIs (3rd), 12 stolen bases, 34 walks (7th), and a 1.076 OPS (2nd) in 68 games. MiLB.com named Diaz the Diamondbacks' Organization All-Star at shortstop, and Baseball America named him a Rookie All Star.[9][10]

Milwaukee Brewers

On January 30, 2016, the Diamondbacks traded Díaz to the Milwaukee Brewers along with Chase Anderson, Aaron Hill, and cash considerations for Jean Segura and Tyler Wagner.[11] Díaz spent the 2016 season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Class A Midwest League, where he hit .264 with a career high 20 home runs and 75 RBIs in 135 games.[12][13] He won the Brewers' organization's Minor League Player of the Year Award.[14] He was also selected to play in the Arizona Fall League.[15]

Díaz spent the 2017 season playing for the Carolina Mudcats of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League[16] where he struggled, batting only .222 with 13 home runs and 54 RBIs in 110 games.[17][18]

Miami Marlins
Díaz with the New Orleans Baby Cakes in 2019

On January 25, 2018, the Brewers traded Díaz to the Miami Marlins, along with Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison and Jordan Yamamoto in exchange for Christian Yelich.[19] MLB.com ranked him as Miami's eighth best prospect going into the 2018 season.[20] Diaz began the season with Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the Class AA Southern League[21] and was promoted to the New Orleans Baby Cakes of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in July.[22] In 119 games between the two teams, he slashed .232/.340/.399 with 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.[23]

The Marlins added Díaz to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.[24] He opened the 2019 season back with New Orleans.[25] He set a franchise record by hitting home runs in five consecutive games in May 2019.[26] Díaz was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[27] Over 102 games with New Orleans, he batted .305/.395/.578 with 89 runs (8th in the PCL), 26 home runs and 70 RBIs, while playing second base.[28]

The Marlins promoted Díaz to the major leagues on August 5, 2019.[29] He made his major league debut and recorded his first major league hit and RBI that same day when he hit a home run off New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom.[30] In 49 games with Miami, he batted .173 with five home runs and 23 RBIs.[31]

After playing two games in the 2020 season, Díaz opted out of the remainder of the season due to the Marlins' COVID-19 outbreak.[32] However, Díaz reversed his decision to opt-out of the season in September and was cleared to rejoin the Marlins.[33] After five games in the month of September, Díaz suffered a left groin strain and was placed on the 60-day injured list.[34]

Díaz began the 2021 MLB season at the Marlins alternative training site after losing the starting second baseman role to Jazz Chisholm.[35] On April 28, 2021, Díaz was recalled from the alternate training site.[36] Díaz hit his first career grand slam on May 8, 2021, off Milwaukee Brewers reliever Patrick Weigel.[37]

He was designated for assignment on March 22, 2022.[38] He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the minor leagues on March 29, 2022.

San Francisco Giants

On April 30, 2022, the Marlins traded Díaz to the San Francisco Giants for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[39] In 2022, with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, he batted .275/.377/.574 in 284 at bats, with 23 home runs (9th in the Pacific Coast League) and 61 RBIs.[40][41] He played 57 games at second base, 14 at shortstop, 10 at third base, and six at DH.[41]

On November 9, 2022, the Giants added Díaz to their 40-man roster.[42][43] Díaz was optioned to Sacramento to begin the 2023 season.[44] The Giants promoted Díaz to the major leagues on June 23.[45]

Detroit Tigers

On August 7, 2023, Díaz was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers and optioned to the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens.[46] On August 13, the Tigers recalled Díaz to replace Javier Báez, who was placed on the bereavement list.[47] He appeared in two games for Detroit, going hitless in 5 at–bats. On August 27, Díaz was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Toledo.[48] The next day, Díaz elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment.[49]

References
  1. "Escogen a boricua en el Sorteo de Novatos de la MLB". Primera Hora. June 6, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  2. "Meet Isan Diaz: O's shortstop sets tone at plate". missoulian.com. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  3. "Central's Isan Diaz makes verbal commitment to Vanderbilt baseball". masslive.com. November 7, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  4. "Central shortstop Isan Diaz says he'll go pro after being drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks in the MLB draft". masslive.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  5. "Isan Diaz - Stats - The Baseball Cube". TheBaseballCube.com.
  6. "Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Isan Diaz still swinging hot bat". masslive.com. August 19, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  7. NBCMontana. "Diaz's bat continues to scorch Pioneer League". NBCMontana. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  8. "Missoula Osprey shortstop, Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Isan Diaz named Pioneer League MVP - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  9. "Arizona Diamondbacks prospects Peter O'Brien, Aaron Blair, Isan Diaz, Brandon Drury, Anthony Banda, Daniel Palka among Organization All-Stars - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  10. "Isan Díaz Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
  11. McCalvy, Adam (January 30, 2016). "Brewers, D-backs strike 5-player deal". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  12. "Brewers prospect Isan Diaz maturing, flourishing". Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  13. Menaker, Elise (June 16, 2016). "Could Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' Isan Diaz eventually be "Robinson Cano 2?"". Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  14. "Infielder Isan Diaz, right-hander Brandon Woodruff earn Milwaukee Brewers top Minor League honors - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  15. "Isan Diaz, Milwaukee Brewers prospect, to play in Arizona Fall League". September 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  16. "Top MLB Prospects, Scouting Reports, Analysis". Baseballamerica.com. February 26, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  17. "Isan Diaz Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  18. RotoWire Staff (July 25, 2017). "Brewers' Isan Diaz: Stock falling due to struggles at High-A". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  19. "Brewers acquire OF Christian Yelich from rebuilding Marlins". ESPN.com. January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  20. "Brinson leads Marlins' revamped Top 30". MLB.com. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  21. "Diaz dialed in with Jumbo Shrimp".
  22. Frisaro, Joe (May 24, 2018). "Isan Diaz promoted to Triple-A by Marlins". MLB.com. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  23. "Isan Diaz Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  24. Frisaro, Joe (May 24, 2018). "Marlins add 7 players, fill out 40-man roster". MLB.com. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  25. RotoWire Staff (March 12, 2019). "Marlins' Isan Diaz: Sent to New Orleans". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  26. "Diaz homers again, sets Cakes' mark".
  27. Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  28. Miami Herald
  29. McPherson, Jordan (August 5, 2019). "Miami Marlins giving Isan Diaz first MLB opportunity, Lewis Brinson chance for redemption". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  30. Adrian Garro (August 5, 2019). "Hitting your first homer as your parents are being interviewed is an unforgettable way to start a career". MLB.com. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  31. "Isan Diaz and his last shot".
  32. West, Jenna. "Marlins' Isan Díaz Opts Out of 2020 Season". Sports Illustrated.
  33. "Marlins' Isan Diaz cleared to return for 2020 MLB season after initially opting opt during COVID-19 outbreak".
  34. "Isan Díaz done for season with left groin strain". MLB.com.
  35. "Marlins' Isan Diaz: Could be headed for utility role". CBSSports.com.
  36. "Isan Díaz recalled; Jazz Chisholm Jr. on injured list". MLB.com.
  37. "Isan Díaz hits first career grand slam in win over Brewers". MLB.com.
  38. "'Dangerous' slugger Jorge Soler adds pop to Miami Marlins".
  39. "Report: Giants keep adding, acquire infielder Diaz from Miami".
  40. "2022 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  41. "Isan Diaz Winter, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  42. "Giants outright players, lose players, add Dom Núñez". mccoveychronicles.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  43. https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/11/09/sf-giants-zaidi-on-judge-other-free-agents-theres-nobody-that-would-be-out-of-our-sort-of-capability-financially/
  44. "Giants' Isan Diaz: Optioned to Triple-A level". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  45. "Giants place OF Mike Yastrzemski on injured list with strained left hamstring". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  46. "Tigers claim infielder from Giants, left-handed pitcher DFA'd". M Live.
  47. "Tigers call up Isan Díaz". CBS Sports.
  48. "Tigers' Isan Diaz: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  49. "Isan Diaz elects free agency". CBS Sports.
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