Last night in the Winter League Championship Series, Jose Diaz started for the DR 1 team. He pitched six innings in which he shutout the Mexican team, allowing four hits and one walk, while striking out eight, batters hit .167 (lefties .083 / righties .167). Diaz has been primarily used as a starter during the winter leagues, starting in 11 gms of the 12 gms he's appeared in ( 55.2 innings). He has produced an ERA of 2.75, BB/SO-19/50, GO/AO- 0.79, and hitters are batting 2.41.Diaz is a 27 y/o right hander who has spent 10 years in the minors leagues. He is known as a very hard thrower, who struggles with control. In 2006 he finally made a brief appearance in the majors with Texas, in which he appeared in four games with an ERA 10.80 ( six innings - 8 runs).
Orginally with the Dodgers, in 2000- 2001 he was a Pioneer league All-star as a catcher, in which he lead the lead in put-outs and assists. By 2001 he had thrown out 45% of attempted base stealers and the Dodgers tried him at several infield positions. As a weak hitter with a cannon of an arm, they converted him to a pitcher in 2002. In 2003 at the trade deadline Diaz was traded to the Mets in a package (which included then Inf. Victor Diaz) for Jeromy Burnitz.
The very next year he was traded with Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano and Bartolome Fortunato. Since then Diaz has bounced through the minor league systems of the Rays, Royals, Rangers and Indians.
He's one of those guys with such a live arm that everybody wishes he could harness control because he'd be a great ROOGY.
This winter the Mets signed him to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training. Hopefully, his numbers in the winter leagues are a sign that he's turned the corner.............
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