FRANCISCO DIAZ, CATCHER
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Born: March 21, 1990 Height: 5’10” Weight: 158 Bats: Both Throws: Right Signed: International Free Agent, 2006 (Phillies) How Acquired: Rule 5 Draft, Minor League Phase Country: Venezuela Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
The Pirates selected Diaz from the Phillies in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He was still young, only 21 when they selected him, and didn’t have a lot of pro experience yet. He has modest hitting ability with limited power, although his eye at the plate appears is good. Diaz is a good receiver with a good arm. He’d thrown out 40% of opposing base stealers when he joined the organization. He hasn’t thrown out as many since, but the Pirates haven’t, at least prior to 2013, put a lot of emphasis on their young pitchers holding runners.
2007 Diaz hit very little in his VSL debut, with no power or walks. 2008 Had a much better season, due in part to dramatic improvement in his plate discipline. He threw out 55% and had only two passed balls in 37 games. 2009 Diaz got only limited playing time in the GCL, as he divided time with two other catchers. He didn’t hit when he played. 2010 Diaz returned to rookie ball and hit a lot better, although still with no power. He threw out 41% and again had only two passed balls, but he still played less than half the time. 2011 Did about half the catching in the NYPL and struggled at the plate, except that the good walk and K rates continued. 2012 Diaz opened 2012 as the backup catcher at Bradenton, but he moved down to West Virginia once Kawika Emsley-Pai recovered from a wrist problem. He hit surprisingly well with the Power, but the backup catcher/small sample size caveat applies. It did get him more playing time, though; after he hit .423 in July, he roughly shared the catching job with the struggling Elias Diaz. While with West Virginia he threw out 21% of base runners. 2013 Diaz opened the season at West Virginia, backing up Wyatt Mathisen, but ended up sharing the position with Kawika Emsley-Pai when Mathisen got hurt. Diaz had a decent season at the plate, drawing a lot of walks and hitting for an OK average. He threw out 31% of base stealers. 2014 Diaz was a free agent after the 2013 season but re-signed with the Pirates. He returned to West Virginia as a backup to Reese McGuire, although Kawika Emsley-Pai eventually assumed most of the backup duties. Diaz ended up playing a little less behind the plate than in left field on a team beset with injuries to its outfielders. Diaz’ hitting fell off from the previous year. He did throw out 43% of base stealers in his limited time at catcher. 2015 Diaz became a free agent again after the season and again re-signed with the Pirates. The catching situation in class A figured to be very crowded, but that got alleviated somewhat when Kevin Krause had to have Tommy John surgery. Diaz backed up Taylor Gushue at West Virginia and had a big year at the plate (of course, it was only 99 plate appearances and he was playing in low A at age 25). He played good defense as usual, throwing out 43% of base stealers. Diaz will be a free agent for the third time after the season. |
CONTRACT INFORMATION
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2015: Minor league contract |
PLAYER INFORMATION
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Signing Bonus: N/A MiLB Debut: 2007 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: 2013 MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
TRANSACTIONS
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July 2, 2006: Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent. December 8, 2011: Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. November 5, 2013: Became a free agent. November 15, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. November 4 2014: Became a free agent. December 4, 2014: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. |