Jonathan Diaz

Not to be confused with Jonathan Díaz or Jhonathan Díaz.
Jonathan Diaz
Diaz with the Toronto Blue Jays
Infielder
Born: (1985-04-10) April 10, 1985 (age 38)
Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 29, 2013, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
October 4, 2015, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Batting average.145
Hits8
Home runs0
Runs batted in6
Teams

Jonathan Diaz (born April 10, 1985) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox.

Early life

Diaz went to Coral Gables Senior High School, where he was teammates with Yonder Alonso and Eddy Rodríguez.[1] In his senior year, he hit .323 with six doubles and one home run. In his freshman year at North Carolina State University, he hit .167 with 18 RBI and 18 runs. In his sophomore year, he hit .317 with 1 HR, 30 RBI and 42 runs in 60 games. In his junior year, he hit .255 with 1 HR, 31 RBI and 42 runs in 63 games. Diaz, who played summer collegiate ball in 2005 with the Thunder Bay Border Cats, was selected in the 12th round (360th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2006 MLB Draft.

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays

Diaz playing for the Lansing Lugnuts, single-A affiliates of the Toronto Blue Jays, in 2007

Diaz was assigned to Short-Season Auburn, where in 73 games as the team's shortstop, he hit .200 with 1 HR, 26 RBI and 34 runs. In 2007, he played with Single-A Lansing, where in 120 games, he hit .246 with 1 HR, 51 RBI, 65 runs and a league-leading 82 walks. His .406 was third in the league behind Chris Pettit (.429) and Deik Scram (.416). Diaz started 2008 with High-A Dunedin, but he was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire on May 18, where he went down and up 4 more times before finishing with the Fisher Cats. In 68 combined games, he hit .182 with 1 HR, 16 RBI, 20 runs and 43 walks. Diaz began 2009 with New Hampshire before being promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on May 12. After a two-month stay there, he was demoted back to New Hampshire. In 94 games, he hit .195 with 1 HR, 18 RBI, 37 runs and 48 walks, including hitting .150 in 29 games in his first Triple-A stint. Diaz was the Fisher Cats Opening Day shortstop in 2010, where he played before being promoted to Las Veags on May 31. He was demoted back to New Hampshire on June 21, where he stayed before earning a one-week promotion to Las Vegas at the end of the season. In 127 games, he hit .239 with 2 HR (a career-high), 43 RBI, 68 runs, 23 doubles and 61 walks. Diaz went to spring training with the Blue Jays in 2011, and was one of the final cuts, staying as insurance for Aaron Hill, who was returning from a quadriceps injury.[2] In 29 games during spring training, he hit .265 with 2 RBI and 6 runs. Diaz was the Fisher Cats Opening Day second baseman in 2011, where he played before being promoted to Las Vegas on April 23. On May 15, he was placed on the disabled list with an injury, and after rehabbing in Dunedin, he returned on July 5 with New Hampshire, where he played the rest of the season with. In 92 games, he hit .267 with 2 HR, 30 RBI, 41 runs and 46 walks. Diaz was with the Blue Jays for spring training in 2012, and he was cut on March 25.[3] In 23 games, he hit .405 with 7 RBI and 9 runs. He was the Fisher Cats Opening Day second baseman, where he played before being promoted to Las Vegas on May 22. He finished the season there. In 134 games, he hit .221 with 4 HR, 40 RBI, 76 runs, 18 stolen bases and 75 walks. After the year, he became a minor league free agent

Boston Red Sox

Diaz was signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox on December 16, 2012.[4] He hit .240 in 22 games with the Red Sox in spring training before being cut on March 25 and assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket.[5] He was the PawSox Opening Day second baseman, and he played with them until his promotion.

He was promoted to the big team on June 29, 2013, and started that day's game against the Blue Jays at third base. Diaz was called up after a prolonged injury to Stephen Drew as Will Middlebrooks was ineligible for promotion (Middlebrooks was optioned June 25 and ten days had not passed) and likely call-up Brock Holt was injured. Diaz was familiar with the Red Sox defensive system because of his experience with John Farrell, Brian Butterfield, and Torey Lovullo during his time in the Toronto organization.[6]

Diaz was optioned back to Pawtucket on July 6, and Holt was called up. Diaz was outrighted to Pawtucket on July 8. In his five-game stint, he went 0-4 with two runs scored. Diaz finished the year with Pawtucket, where in 101 games, he hit .253 with two home runs, 31 RBI, 45 runs scored and 47 walks.[7] He became a free agent after the season.

Toronto Blue Jays (second stint)

Diaz returned to the Blue Jays on November 11, 2013, on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.[8] He was initially assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, but was brought up to the Blue Jays on March 31, 2014, before the Buffalo season started because José Reyes was added to the 15-day disabled list.[9] Diaz made his Blue Jays debut the following day, and recorded his first career hit and RBI. He received a 2013 World Series champion ring on April 26, when the Red Sox came to Toronto for a three-game series.[10][11] Diaz was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on May 1, to make room for Steve Tolleson.[12] He was called up again on May 12, and played in that night's game, going 0 for 4. Diaz was optioned back to Buffalo the next day. On June 25, he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays,[13] and outrighted to Buffalo on June 27. In 23 games with Toronto in 2014, Diaz batted .158 with 4 RBI.[14] He elected free agency after the season ended.[15] On October 15, Diaz signed a minor-league contract, with an invitation to spring training.[16]

Diaz was selected from Buffalo on April 28, 2015, when José Reyes was placed on the disabled list.[17] He was optioned back to Buffalo on May 5,[18] and outrighted off the 40-man roster on May 15.[19] Diaz was called up on September 30.[20] He appeared in 7 games in 2015, batting .154 with 2 RBI.[21] On November 6, Diaz elected free agency.[22]

New York Yankees

On January 8, 2016, Diaz signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.[23] Diaz played in 101 games with the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, hitting .207/.315/.249 with 1 home run and 25 RBI.

Toronto Blue Jays (third stint)

On January 31, 2017, Diaz signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[24] He was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to begin the year, and also spent time with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

New York Yankees (second stint)

On July 5, 2017, Diaz was traded to the New York Yankees organization.[25] He returned to Triple-A Scranton and hit .243/.376/.351 in 28 games with the team. Diaz became a free agent at the end of the season.

References

  1. ^ Collins, Donny (July 30, 2017). "Reunited". The Citizens' Voice. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  2. ^ Chisholm, Gregor (March 27, 2011). "Thames, Cooper among Blue Jays' cuts". MLB.com.
  3. ^ "Travis Snider Sent To AAA". AL Eastbound & Down. March 25, 2012. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  4. ^ "Red Sox Sign Jonathan Diaz, Mark Hamilton To Minor League Contracts". January 4, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  5. ^ Doyle, Ricky (March 25, 2013). "Xander Bogaerts, Drew Sutton, Jonathan Diaz Sent to Red Sox' Minor League Camp". NESN.
  6. ^ Boston.com – Red Sox call up Diaz to start at third base June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "Jonathan Diaz Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  8. ^ "Blue Jays sign three". Blue Jays. November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  9. ^ Lott, John (March 31, 2014). "Blue Jays lose Jose Reyes and the game as season gets off to a depressingly familiar start". National Post. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  10. ^ Ross, Jamie (April 26, 2014). "Diaz receives 2013 World Series ring". MLB.com. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  11. ^ Toman, Chris (April 26, 2014). "Blue Jays middle infielder Diaz gets World Series ring". MLB.com. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "Jays promote Gose, Tolleson; demote Diaz, designate Sierra". TSN.ca. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  13. ^ Davidi, Shi (June 25, 2014). "Blue Jays recall Glenn, option Pillar to Bisons". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "Jonathan Diaz Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  15. ^ "Tuesday Tidbits: Minor League Free Agents, Drew Hutchison, Blue Jays Roster Tree". Bluebird Banter. September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  16. ^ "Blue Jays sign infielder Diaz to minor-league contract". Canadian Press. October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  17. ^ Davidid, Shi (April 28, 2015). "Blue Jays placing Reyes on DL, recalling Diaz". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  18. ^ Todd, Jeff (May 5, 2015). "Blue Jays Designate Jayson Aquino". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  19. ^ "Blue Jays acquire shortstop Torreyes from Astros". Sportsnet. May 15, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  20. ^ Davidi, Shi (September 30, 2015). "Jonathan Diaz 'ecstatic' to be called up by Blue Jays". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  21. ^ "Jonathan Diaz Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  22. ^ "International League Transactions". milb.com. p. November 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  23. ^ "Yankees' Jonathan Diaz: Signs minor league deal with Yankees". cbssports.com. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  24. ^ Loung, Steven (January 31, 2017). "Blue Jays sign infielder Jonathan Diaz to minor-league contract". Sportsnet. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  25. ^ "Yankees' Jonathan Diaz: Traded to Yankees". cbssports.com. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.

External links