Jhonathan Díaz

From BR Bullpen

Jhonathan Alexander Díaz Ponce

  • Bats Left, Throws Left
  • Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.

BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

Jhonathan Díaz pitched for the Venezuelan national team before making his major league debut at the end of the 2021 season.

Díaz was signed by Boston Red Sox scouts Eddie Romero and Angel Escobar in July 2013. [1] He had a strong pro debut with the 2014 DSL Red Sox at 6-2, 1.63 with a 0.94 WHIP. He was 9th in the Dominican Summer League in ERA, between Miguel Bautista and Samuel Zazueta. [2] He missed the next year, though, due to knee surgery. [3] Returning to action in 2016, he was 4-4 with a 2.85 ERA for the GCL Red Sox. He was second in the Gulf Coast League in Ks (57, 8 behind Nick Fanti), second in IP (60, five behind Hildemaro Requena) and 3rd in K/9 IP. [4]

In 2017, he fell to 6-6, 4.57 for the Greenville Drive in his full-season debut. The lefty split 2018 between the Salem Red Sox (0-1, 3 R in 4 1/3 IP) and Greenville (11-8, 3.00). He tied Tyler Phillips for the South Atlantic League lead in wins, tied Spencer Howard and Tony Dibrell for the most strikeouts, tied for 5th in WHIP (1.06) and was 8th in ERA (between Domingo Robles and Reid Anderson. [5] He tied for second among Red Sox farmhands in wins (one behind Denyi Reyes), was second in ERA (behind Reyes) and second in strikeouts (151, six behind Kutter Crawford).

The Valencia native posted a 9-8, 3.86 record for Salem in 2019. He tied Enmanuel De Jesús for second in the Boston chain in wins (3 behind Kyle Hart) and was sixth with 118 K (between Brayan Bello and Reyes). On the other hand, his 19 hit batsmen led their minor leaguers. He tied for 4th in the Carolina League in victories, was 4th in strikeouts, hit the most batters (two more than Zach Lewis) and was 7th in ERA (between Juan Hillman and Javier Assad). [6] He had a 4.35 ERA in eight relief outings for the Arizona Fall League's Peoria Javelinas, striking out 16 in 10 1/3 IP.

The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then became a free agent and was signed by the Los Angeles Angels. [7] He began 2021 well with the Rocket City Trash Pandas (1-0, 2.30 after four games) then made Venezuela's squad for the Americas Olympic Qualifier. He made two appearances, splitting two decisions. Against Cuba, he relieved Adrián Almeida in the 6th with a 4-3 lead. He struck out Yadir Drake and Yosvani Alarcón then got Erisbel Arruebarruena on a fly. In the 7th, he retired Dayán García then walked Roel Santos and Yadir Mujica hit into a force. Andrés Machado relieved; Jhonathan got the decision in Venezuela's 6-5 victory, their first over Cuba in a world-level tournament since the 1953 Amateur World Series. [8] His other outing, he started against the Dominican national team but lasted only 1 2/3 IP and allowed five hits, two runs and three unearned runs (fanning one, Diego Goris), before Danny Rondón took over. He took the loss to Enny Romero in what would be a 14-4 defeat. [9] Venezuela did not make the Olympics outright but advanced to the Final Olympic Qualifier. Later that season, in September, he made his big league debut for the Angels, appearing in 3 games, including 2 starts, and earning his first win in a 14-1 beatdown of the Seattle Mariners on September 25th, when he pitched the final seven innings in relief. It was his only decision and his ERA was 4.15 in 13 innings.

Jhonathan appeared briefly in the majors for the Angels in both 2022 and 2023, going 1-1, 2.93 in 4 games the first year and 0-0, 10.29 in 4 games the second. He spent the bulk of those two seasons in the minors with the AAA Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League, going 3-1, 4.98 in 10 starts the first year and 9-2, 4.55 in 38 games, including 8 starts the second. He signed as a minor league free agent with the Seattle Mariners before the 2024 season and was assigned to the Tacoma Rainiers, staying in the PCL. On May 10th, he was involved in a strange play when he fielded a slow roller on the third base side of the mound with his bare right hand - normally his glove hand - and then threw out the runner with that same hand. It was a deliberate decision, as he saw that he would not have time to field the ball properly and turn around in order to throw out Sergio Alcantara and decided to attack the ball in this highly unorthodox fashion.

Sources[edit]

  1. ↑ 2019 Red Sox Media Guide, pg. 480
  2. ↑ 2015 Baseball Almanac, pg. 398
  3. ↑ 2019 Red Sox Media Guide, pg. 480
  4. ↑ ibid.
  5. ↑ 2019 Baseball Almanac, pg. 387
  6. ↑ 2020 Baseball Almanac, pg. 397
  7. ↑ MILB.com
  8. ↑ World Baseball and Softball Confederation
  9. ↑ Americas Olympic Qualifier

Further Reading[edit]

  • Kenny Van Doren: "Lefty Minor League pitcher throws for the out ... righty?!", mlb.com, May 11, 2024. [1]

Related Sites[edit]

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