Denis Díaz

Denis Alexander Díaz Villatoro

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.

• Born November 20, 1994 in Tegucigalpa Honduras

BR register page

Biographical Information

Denis Díaz has pitched in the minors and for the Honduran national team.

Díaz was throwing 90 mph when he was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays; he was one of the earlier Honduran-raised minor leaguers, following Mariano Gomez, Orlando Castro and Jorge Zavala. The scouts were Ismael Cruz, Sandy Rosario and Daniel Sotelo. He was 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA and 2.60 WHIP in a rough pro debut (12 G) for the 2013 DSL Blue Jays. In 2014, he returned to the same team and made major strides at 4-4, 3.91 with a 1.15 WHIP, starting regularly.

The right-hander split 2015 between the GCL Blue Jays (4-1, 3.58 in 10 G) and Dunedin Blue Jays (4 R in 3 IP, 0-1). The next year, he pitched for the Bluefield Blue Jays (2-1, 2.91 in 5 G) and Vancouver Canadians (1-5, 7.71 in 7 G, 2.07 WHIP). In '17, he was with the Lansing Lugnuts (0-5, 8.74 ERA, 1.93 WHIP in 26 G) and the Dunedin Blue Jays (0 R in 4 1/3 IP). His 18 wild pitches led the Jays farm chain and also led the Midwest League (three more than Max Cordy).

He then appeared for Honduras in the 2017 Central American Games. He started one game, against Costa Rica. He pitched shutout ball over the first three to match Pablo Barquero but struggled in the 4th and left with two outs. He had given up two hits, three walks and two runs (both earned) while fanning four. Zavala and Luis Matamoros shut out Costa Rica the rest of the way and Honduras rallied after Barquero left to pick up the win. He returned for one last go in the minors, with a 0-2, 7.31 record and 1.98 WHIP in 21 games for the 2018 Canadians. He was 12-19 with a 5.94 ERA in 97 minor league games (39 starts). In 260 2/3 IP, he had allowed 271 hits and 170 walks while whiffing 201.

Denis pitched twice in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games Central American Qualifier. Against Costa Rica, he closed out Juan Girón's 6-1 win. He walked Francis Soto then Yader Monge hit into a double play. Byron Palma and Jassiel Irigoyen both drew walks before Emilson Juárez struck out. His other outing was rockier; in the title game, he took over for Darlyn Rodriguez with a 6-0 deficit in the 4th against host Nicaragua. He went four innings, allowing five hits, two walks and seven runs (five earned); Elmer Andrade closed it out. He struck out one batter, Juan Montes. Only Joaquin Acuna made more appearances in the event, while Díaz tied for 4th in walks issued, tied Rodriguez for third in runs allowed and tied for 4th in earned runs.