Miguel Díaz (baseball)

Miguel Angel Díaz (born November 28, 1994) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros.

Miguel Díaz
Díaz pitching for the Padres in 2021
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1994-11-28) November 28, 1994 (age 29)
San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 3, 2017, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record6–2
Earned run average4.81
Strikeouts132
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Career

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Milwaukee Brewers

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Díaz signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as an international free agent on December 1, 2011. He pitched in the Dominican Summer League as a 17- and 18-year old, and then spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons in the rookie-level Arizona League. In 2016, he worked in the Single–A Midwest League, starting 15 games and making 11 more appearances out of the bullpen with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

San Diego Padres

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Díaz was selected by the Minnesota Twins with the first pick of the 2016 Rule 5 draft and was then traded to the San Diego Padres.[1][2] Díaz made the Padres' 2017 Opening Day roster[3] and made his Major League debut on Opening Day. Díaz was initially used as a reliever, but transitioned into a starter role in June. While making his third start, Díaz suffered a forearm strain and ended up on the disabled list.[4] He returned to the Padres in September, again pitching in relief.[5] For the 2017 season, he totaled 33 strikeouts in 4123 innings and a 7.34 ERA.

In 2018, the Padres intended to develop Díaz as a starter,[6] and he was optioned early in the spring to minor league camp.[7] Díaz began the season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions, where the Padres tried to stretch out his arm, and then was promoted to Triple-A El Paso in mid-May.[8] He was moved back to San Antonio in June after struggling with El Paso.[9]

The Padres called up Díaz for a single game at the beginning of July to help rest an over-extended bullpen. Díaz struck out four batters in one of the two scoreless innings he pitched, becoming only the second Padre to accomplish the feat.[10] Díaz returned to the Major League club in mid-August and stayed with the team for the remainder of the season, working out of the bullpen.[11] He finished with a 4.82 ERA, 30 strike-outs, and 12 walks in 1823 innings at the big league level. In his 65 innings with San Antonio, he had a 2.35 ERA and 66 strike-outs versus 30 walks. After the season, Díaz was placed in the Arizona Fall League to improve his command and work out mechanical flaws.[12]

On December 2, 2019, Díaz was non-tendered and became a free agent.[13] He re-signed with San Diego the next day on a minor league contract that included an invitation to Spring Training.[14] Díaz did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

On February 12, 2021, Díaz signed with the San Diego Padres organization on a minor league deal that included an invitation to Spring Training. On April 30, 2021, Díaz was selected to the active roster.[16] He made his season debut on May 3 as the starting pitcher against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Díaz made 25 appearances for San Diego in 2021, posting a 3.64 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 42.0 innings of work. On October 30, Díaz was outrighted off of the 40-man roster[17] and elected free agency on November 7.

Detroit Tigers

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On March 12, 2022, Díaz signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[18] Diaz spent most of 2022 playing for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, pitching in 58 games and posting a 4-5 record and 4.29 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 7 saves in 65.0 innings pitched. On September 29, Diaz's contract was selected by the Tigers.[19]

On November 15, Díaz was designated for assignment by the Tigers.[20] On November 18, Díaz was non–tendered and became a free agent. He re-signed a minor league deal on November 29. [21] In 49 games for Triple–A Toledo, he registered a 5.05 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 14 saves in 57.0 innings of work. On September 1, 2023, Díaz was selected to the major league roster.[22] In 12 relief outings, he posted a strong 0.64 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 14 innings pitched.

On March 28, 2024, Díaz was designated for assignment after failing to make Detroit's Opening Day roster.[23]

Houston Astros

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On April 4, 2024, Díaz was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[24] He made one scoreless outing before being designated for assignment on April 8.[25] On April 11, Díaz cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Sugar Land Space Cowboys; however he subsequently rejected the assignment and elected free agency.[26] He re–signed with the Astros on a minor league contract the next day.[27] In 13 games for Triple–A Sugar Land, Díaz struggle to a 9.64 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 14 innings. He was released by the Astros organization on May 27.[28]

Detroit Tigers (second stint)

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On June 9, 2024, Díaz signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization.[29] On November 6, he elected free agency.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2016 Rule 5 Draft results". MLB.com. December 8, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "Padres acquire RHP Miguel Diaz - FOX Sports". December 8, 2016.
  3. ^ Lin, Dennis (April 2017). "Padres set opening-day roster, option Cory Spangenberg to El Paso".
  4. ^ Cassavell, AJ (June 21, 2017). "Diaz expected to miss start after early exit". MLB.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  5. ^ Cassavell, AJ (September 6, 2017). "Diaz dazzles with 4 innings of shutout relief". MLB.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Cassavell, AJ (February 22, 2018). "Diaz transitioning back to starting role". MLB.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  7. ^ "Padres' Miguel Diaz: Optioned to minor-league camp". CBSSports.com. February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  8. ^ Cusick, Patrick. "Luis Perdomo Should Get the Start on Monday Against the Nationals". East Village Times. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  9. ^ Barnett, Travis (June 29, 2018). "San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: June 28". MadFriars.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  10. ^ Cassavell, AJ (July 8, 2018). "Diaz makes Padres history in 2018 debut". MLB.com. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  11. ^ Acee, Kevin (August 17, 2018). "Padres notes: Miguel Diaz returns; Wingenter throws; Pirela starts in left". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  12. ^ Acee, Kevin (September 26, 2018). "Miguel Diaz can command bigger role for Padres in '19". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  13. ^ Kevin Acee (December 2, 2019). "Padres acquire Oakland infielder Jurickson Profar for catcher Austin Allen". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  14. ^ Jeff Sanders (December 3, 2019). "Minors: Pedro Avila, Miguel Diaz staying with Padres on minor league deals". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  15. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". mlbtraderumors.com. June 30, 2020.
  16. ^ "Padres Place Chris Paddack on IL, Select Miguel Diaz". April 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Padres' Miguel Diaz: Removed from 40-man roster". October 30, 2021.
  18. ^ "Tigers' Miguel Diaz: Joins Tigers on minor-league deal". March 13, 2022.
  19. ^ "Detroit Tigers lose Kerry Carpenter, Matt Manning for rest of 2022". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "Tigers add 5 youngsters to the roster; veteran reliever among those cut". mlive.com. November 15, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  21. ^ "Tigers Re-Sign Four Players to Minor League Deals". November 29, 2022.
  22. ^ "Tigers' Miguel Diaz: Added to roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  23. ^ "Tigers Designate Miguel Diaz For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  24. ^ "Astros To Claim Miguel Diaz, Cooper Hummel Off Waivers". MLB Trade Rumors. April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  25. ^ "Astros Designate Miguel Díaz For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  26. ^ "Miguel Diaz Elects Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  27. ^ "Astros' Miguel Diaz: Back with Houston on minors deal". cbssports.com. April 13, 2024.
  28. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-05-27 [bare URL]
  29. ^ "Tigers Sign Miguel Diaz To Minor League Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  30. ^ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/
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