Dayán Díaz

Dayán Enrique Díaz

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 188 lb.

• Debut May 22, 2016
• Final Game July 6, 2017
• Born February 10, 1989 in Cartagena, Bolívar Colombia

BR page

Biographical Information

Dayán Díaz reached the major leagues in 2016.

Díaz signed with the Houston Astros in October 2005; the scouts were Pablo Torrealba and Guillermo Ramirez. In 2006, he was 0-1 with 6 runs in 5 2/3 IP, walking 9 for the VSL Astros. For 2007, he was 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA for the same club. Returning to the VSL Astros for a third year, he went 2-2 with two saves and a 1.85 ERA, with just 5 walks in 48 2/3 IP. He missed 2009 due to injury. Returning for only 3 games in 2010, Dayan was 0-1 with a save and a 5.40 ERA for the GCL Astros.

Healthy in 2011, Díaz excelled for the Tri-City ValleyCats, going 7-3 with two saves, a 1.98 ERA, 70 K and only 27 hits in 50 innings for a .158 opponent average. The only downside was his walk rate, as he issued 30 free passes. Baseball America named him a short-season All-Star. He tied Rob Nixon for second in the New York-Penn League in wins, one behind Josh Hodges. He was also second in whiffs, 6 behind Luis Sanz.

With the 2012 Lexington Legends, Dayán was 5-4 with 19 saves, a 1.85 ERA, 64 strikeouts in 58 1/3 IP and a .197 opponent average. He tied T.J. Chism for third in the South Atlantic League in saves, two shy of leader Jefri Hernandez. He pitched for the Colombian national team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers but fared horribly in his lone outing against Brazil. He relieved Rivar Angulo with one on and no outs in the 6th, down 2-1. He walked JC Muniz. After a bunt by Felipe Burin, Tiago Magalhaes hit a sacrifice fly. Díaz struck out Pedro Okuda to end that inning. In the 7th, he hit Paulo Orlando. After a sacrifice, he intentionally walked Yan Gomes then allowed a RBI single to Reinaldo Sato. Dewen Perez relieved and allowed two of the inherited runners to score, putting Colombia into a 6-1 hole from which they would not recover.

Díaz signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent and pitched in 2013 for the Daytona Cubs (0-1, Sv, 2.45 in 6 G), Tennessee Smokies (5.14 ERA in 5 G) and AZL Cubs (0 R in 3 IP) while battling injuries. He signed wit hthe Boston Red Sox and was healthier in 2014 with the Salem Red Sox (0-1, 6 Sv, 1.34 ERA, 40 K in 33 2/3 IP, .179 opponent average) and Portland Sea Dogs (2-1, Sv, 2.76 in 11 G). That winter, he was 0-1 with two saves and a 2.57 ERA for the Santurce Crabbers. In 2015, he was with the Sea Dogs (2 Sv, 7 H, 17 K, 2 BB, 2 R in 15 2/3 IP) and Pawtucket Red Sox (2-1, 4 Sv, 1.89 in 28 G), finally making it to AAA in his 9th pro season. He was 0-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 18 games for the Cardenales de Lara in the winter.

The Cincinnati Reds signed him for 2016, his 4th MLB organization. He started well with the Louisville Bats (2-0, 1.88 in 12 G) and got called up to the majors alongside A.J. Morris and Josh Smith with the Reds in 2016 having serious bullpen woes; the team demoted Jumbo Diaz and Keyvius Sampson and designated Steve Delabar for assignment during the shake-up. In his MLB debut, he relieved Alfredo Simon with a 5-4 deficit in the top of the 6th against Seattle. He retired Wade Miley, allowed a hit to Leonys Martín then got Nori Aoki to hit into a double play. Tyler Holt pinch-hit for Díaz in the bottom of the inning.

Sources

• 2012 Astros Media Guide
• MILB.com
• Worldbaseballclassic.com

Related Sites

• Dayan Diaz on mlb.com
• BR Minors page