Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy (born March 22, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional
baseball pitcher for the
New York Mets of
Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the
Seattle Mariners.
Within two months of his MLB debut, Díaz broke the Mariners' record for consecutive strikeouts and was named the team's
closer. After saving 19 games, he finished fifth in the
American League (AL) Rookie of the Year voting. In 2018, he recorded 57 saves to lead the
American League, was an
All-Star, and was named
AL Reliever of the Year
Major League Baseball (MLB) annually honors its best relief pitchers in the American League (AL) and National League (NL) with the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award, respectively. The awa ...
. The Mariners traded him to the Mets after the season, where he earned his second All-Star honor during the
2022 season.
Early life
Díaz grew up in the Naguabo neighborhood in
Naguabo, Puerto Rico. He started playing baseball around age 7, playing mostly as a
center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the c ...
.
While growing up in Puerto Rico, Díaz played as an outfielder during his youth along players like
Carlos Correa
Carlos Javier Correa Oppenheimer Jr. (born September 22, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, who selected him first overall in the ...
and
José Berríos.
At the insistence of his father, he reluctantly tried pitching as a teenager.
Professional career
Minor leagues (2012–2016)
The
Seattle Mariners selected Díaz in the third round, with the 98th overall pick, of the
2012 Major League Baseball draft
The 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 4 through June 6, 2012, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Houston Astros, with the first overall pick, selected Carlos Correa from the Puerto R ...
out of Caguas Military Academy in
Caguas, Puerto Rico. He made his professional debut that season for the
Arizona League Mariners. In nine games (one start) he went 2–1 with a 5.21
earned run average (ERA) with 20
strikeouts in 19 innings. In 2013, he pitched for the
Pulaski Mariners. In 13 starts, he went 5–2 with a 1.43 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 69 innings. Prior to the 2014 season, Díaz was named the Mariners fifth best prospect by
Baseball America
''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...
. He spent the season with the
Clinton LumberKings and was co-selected the organization's minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year along Jordan Pries.
In 2015, Díaz played for the
Bakersfield Blaze and
Jackson Generals. That year, he won the recognition of minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season. Díaz started 2016 with Jackson as a starting pitcher and was moved to the bullpen after six starts.
Seattle Mariners
2016
Díaz was called up to the major leagues for the first time on June 4, 2016. Between June 28 and July 3, he recorded ten consecutive outs via strikeout, tying a franchise record set in 1997. On July 6, 2016, Díaz broke the record with his 11th consecutive out via strikeout. Between July 19 and 22, 2016, he recorded 8 consecutive strikeouts, tying him for second place with four different American League pitchers (
Doug Fister set the AL record, with 9, on September 27, 2012).
On August 1, 2016, Díaz replaced
Steve Cishek as the Mariners'
closer. He recorded the first save of his career the following day, in a 5–4 win over the
Boston Red Sox, in which he struck out the side. By reaching his 50th strikeout in only 25 and a third innings, Díaz became the first pitcher to do so in at least 123 years.
2018: All-Star season
Owning a 2.25 ERA, 36 saves, and 76 strikeouts in 48 innings, Díaz was named to the
2018 All-Star Game, his first All-Star appearance. Díaz became the holder of the
Seattle Mariners Club Record for saves before the All-Star Break, finishing with 36 saves before the break. The previous club record was 29 saves by
Kazuhiro Sasaki in the 2001 season. In the All-Star Game, Díaz was the
winning pitcher
Winning may refer to:
* Victory
Film
* ''Winning'' (film), a 1969 movie starring Paul Newman
* '' Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman'', a 2015 documentary by Adam Carolla and Nate Adams
Music
* ''Winning'', an album by Ten Foot Pole, 2022
...
even though he also had a blown save in the process as the NL team tied the game in the 9th inning. He ended up with two strikeouts and two earned runs including a home run in one inning pitched. Díaz received the
AL Reliever of the Month Award for April, June, and July. On August 10, Díaz recorded his 44th save, thus breaking the record for most saves by a Puerto Rican MLB player.
Roberto Hernández had 43 in 1999.
With a win on August 12 against the Houston Astros, the Mariners were 26–0 when Díaz was handed a one-run lead. In those games Díaz had 24 saves, a 0.68 ERA, 26.1 IP, 13 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, and 49 strikeouts. Also, with the save on August 12 (his 46th of the season), Díaz became the first pitcher to record four saves in a single series since 2004 as Seattle completed a four-game sweep of the Astros.
Díaz's 24 saves when entering a game with a one-run lead broke the record for most in a season, which had been 23, set by
Francisco Rodríguez for the
Angels of Anaheim in 2008. His save number 46 of the season was part of 27 straight saves; he had a 0.39 ERA in games that he had saved in the 2018 season. On August 24, Díaz notched his 49th save of the season, setting a Mariners single-season record when he closed out a 6–3 win over the
Arizona Diamondbacks. The previous Mariners franchise single-season saves record was 48, by
Fernando Rodney in the 2014 season.
On August 25, 2018 Díaz became the youngest pitcher to collect 50 saves in a season when he closed a 4–3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 50 saves meant that Seattle manager Scott Servais had to follow through on a bet and get a haircut like that of Díaz. Díaz, who usually keeps the ball after each of his saves, gave Saturday's to Servais in honor of the bet.
On October 27, Díaz was awarded the
AL Reliever of the Year
Major League Baseball (MLB) annually honors its best relief pitchers in the American League (AL) and National League (NL) with the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award, respectively. The awa ...
award. He finished the 2018 season with 57 saves (leading the major leagues) and 65 games finished to go with a 1.96 ERA, 124 strikeouts, and a 0.79 WHIP in innings.
His 57 saves tied with
Bobby Thigpen for the second-highest single-season saves total of all-time.
New York Mets
On December 3, 2018, the Mariners traded Díaz,
Robinson Canó
Robinson José Canó Mercedes (; born October 22, 1982) is a Dominican-American professional baseball second baseman who is currently a free agent. He previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Dieg ...
, and $20 million to the
New York Mets for
Jay Bruce,
Jarred Kelenic
Jarred Robert Kelenic ( ; born July 16, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Kelenic was drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft by the New York Mets and was trad ...
,
Anthony Swarzak,
Gerson Bautista
Gerson Bautista (born May 31, 1995) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the New York Mets in 2018 and also played for the Seattle Mariners ...
, and
Justin Dunn
Justin Warren Dunn (born September 22, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners. Dunn played college baseball at Boston ...
. He recorded his first save as a Met on Opening Day against the
Washington Nationals.
In the first half of the 2019 season, Díaz surrendered more than twice as many hits per nine innings as in the 2018 season and his
ERA+
An era is a span of time defined for the purposes of chronology or historiography, as in the regnal eras in the history of a given monarchy, a calendar era used for a given calendar, or the geological eras defined for the history of Earth.
Compa ...
dropped from 210 in 2018 to 74 in the first half of the 2019 campaign. Writing for ''
Deadspin'', David Roth described Díaz's downturn as "arguably the most dramatic and most surprising" of any player's collapse to that point in the
2019 MLB season
The 2019 Major League Baseball season began on March 20, while the regular season ended on September 29. It was the 150th anniversary of professional baseball, dating back to the 1869 foundation of the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The postseason beg ...
.
On September 26, 2019, Díaz allowed his 15th ninth-inning home run of the season, the most 9th innings home runs given up by a single pitcher in a single season in Major League history. He finished the season with 58 innings pitched, 26 saves, and an ERA of 5.59.
In the
pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Díaz converted six of ten save opportunities and recorded a 1.75 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 14 walks in innings.
On April 29,
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...
, Díaz pitched in relief in a combined
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
against the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
, pitching the final inning and earning the save. On June 12, he struck out five batters. Díaz earned NL Reliever of the Month honors in June, allowing one run in innings, converting all five save opportunities and allowing a 0.93 WHIP.
On July 10, 2022, Díaz was named an
All-Star for the second time in his career. He entered the All-Star break with 20 saves in 23 save opportunities and a 1.69 ERA. He struck out 75 of the 145 batters he faced in the first half of the season. Díaz closed out the ninth inning of a 1–0 win versus Philadelphia on August 13 to earn his 200th career save, the sixth active player to do so. He issued two walks during that outing, ending a streak of 50 batters faced without a walk.
On November 9, 2022, Díaz signed a 5-year contract with the Mets worth $102 million, the most valuable contract ever signed by a relief pitcher.
On December 6, 2022, Díaz was named the 2022
Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year. He also made the All-MLB First Team.
International play
Díaz played as a relief pitcher, more specifically as a closer for the
Puerto Rican national team
Puerto, a Spanish word meaning ''seaport'', may refer to:
Places
*El Puerto de Santa María, Andalusia, Spain
*Puerto, a seaport town in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
*Puerto Colombia, Colombia
*Puerto Cumarebo, Venezuela
*Puerto Galera, Orient ...
in the
2017 World Baseball Classic
The 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, composed of 16 competing nations, held from March 6 to March 22, 2017. It was the fourth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. The first-round hosts ...
where he won a silver medal. He had 2 saves at the tournament: one against Dominican Republic and another against United States, both in the second round. In the semifinal game against
the Netherlands, he won the game as Puerto Rico scored in the bottom of the 11th inning for a 4–3 win.
Pitching style
Díaz throws three pitches. His most common pitch is a hard
four-seam fastball that has averaged in his first three seasons in MLB. His other pitches are a
slider at an average and a
changeup at an average of .
Díaz has been a strikeout pitcher in his MLB career, compiling an average of 14.4
strikeouts per nine innings pitched through the 2021 season.
Díaz is known for his
entrance music being "
Narco" by
Blasterjaxx
Blasterjaxx is a Dutch DJ and record producer duo composed of Thom Jongkind (born 1990) and Idir Makhlaf (born 1991), originated in The Hague and active since 2010. They are mostly known for producing big room house and electro house music, bein ...
and
Timmy Trumpet
Timothy Jude Smith (born 9 June 1982), known by his stage name Timmy Trumpet, is an Australian musician, DJ, songwriter and record producer. He has become known internationally for playing the trumpet live and making use of jazz elements in dan ...
.
Personal life
In the offseason, Díaz spends time in his native Daguao in the Naguabo Municipality in Puerto Rico, where most of his family lives.
Díaz has organized baseball clinics for the children in his hometown as part of his Edwin Díaz Baseball Academy.
Robinson Canó
Robinson José Canó Mercedes (; born October 22, 1982) is a Dominican-American professional baseball second baseman who is currently a free agent. He previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Dieg ...
and
Martín Maldonado
Martín Benjamín Maldonado Valdés (born August 16, 1986) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, K ...
have attended these clinics.
Díaz's brother,
Alexis Díaz, is a professional baseball player who currently pitches for the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
. Alexis' first save, on May 17, 2022, made them the third set of brothers to both earn a save on one day.
See also
*
Baseball in Puerto Rico
Baseball is the most popular sport in Puerto Rico. In terms of spectators and active participants, it is the premier sport on the island.
The baseball game was introduced to the island in the late 19th century and the first two baseball clubs we ...
*
List of Major League Baseball career saves leaders
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a save (denoted by SV) who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. Most commonly a pitcher earns a save by entering in the ninth inning of a game in w ...
*
List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
Below is a list of Major League Baseball no-hitters, enumerating every no-hitter pitched in Major League Baseball history. In addition, all no-hitters that were broken up in extra innings or were in shortened games are listed, although they are no ...
*
List of Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
*
List of New York Mets no-hitters
The New York Mets are a Major League Baseball franchise based in the New York City borough of Queens. Formed in 1962, they play in the National League East division. Pitchers for the Mets have thrown two no-hitters in franchise history. A no-hitte ...
*
List of Puerto Ricans
*
List of Seattle Mariners team records
The Seattle Mariners are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team who have participated in 46 seasons since their inception in 1977. Through July 16, 2022, they have played 7,156 games, winning 3,385, losing 3,769, and tying two, for a winning percent ...
*
Most Saves in a single season
*
Seattle Mariners award winners and league leaders
The following is a list of Seattle Mariners professional baseball players and managers who have won various awards or other accolades from Major League Baseball or other organizations or have led the American League in some statistical category ...
References
External links
*
Edwin Díaz recent news - Rotoworld.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diaz, Edwin
1994 births
Living people
Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
Major League Baseball pitchers
Seattle Mariners players
New York Mets players
National League All-Stars
Arizona League Mariners players
People from Naguabo, Puerto Rico
Pulaski Mariners players
Clinton LumberKings players
Bakersfield Blaze players
Jackson Generals (Southern League) players
American League All-Stars
American League saves champions
2017 World Baseball Classic players