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Alexis Díaz (baseball)

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For the outfielder, see Alex Diaz (outfielder).

Alexis Díaz
Díaz with the Cincinnati Reds in 2024
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 40
Pitcher
Born: (1996-09-28) September 28, 1996 (age 28)
Humacao, Puerto Rico
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 8, 2022, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through April 30, 2025)
Win–loss record18–14
Earned run average3.21
Strikeouts227
Saves75
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Alexis Omar Díaz (born September 28, 1996) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds selected Díaz in the 12th round of the 2015 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut in 2022.

Career

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Cincinnati Reds

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Díaz was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 12th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft.[1] He made his professional debut for the Arizona League Reds that same year, appearing in nine games.[1] Díaz underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2016, which kept him sidelined for the entire season.[2] He returned to the Arizona League in 2017 and pitched to a 4.94 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 13 appearances.[1] In 2018, Díaz was promoted to the rookie-level Greeneville Reds, where he posted a 3–3 record and 3.02 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 11 games (nine of them starts).[1] In 2019, with the Single-A Dayton Dragons, he logged a 7–4 record and 5.18 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 57+1⁄3 innings pitched across 25 appearances.[1] Díaz did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] In 2021, he played for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, posting a 3.83 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 42+1⁄3 innings across 35 contests.[1]

The Reds added Díaz to their 40-man roster following the 2021 season on November 19, 2021.[4] On April 7, 2022, it was announced that he had made the Opening Day roster out of Spring Training.[5] Díaz made his major league debut the following day against the Atlanta Braves, tossing a scoreless inning and collecting his first two strikeouts (Adam Duvall and Travis d'Arnaud).[6] He earned his first save on May 17, 2022, in the tenth inning against the Cleveland Guardians.[7] He finished the season with a 7–3 record, 1.84 ERA, 83 strikeouts and 10 saves in 59 games.[8]

In 2023, Díaz became entrenched as the Reds closer[2] and was selected to the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[9] He pitched in 71 games, with a 9–6 record, 3.07 ERA, 86 strikeouts and 37 saves.[8] In 2024, he saved 28 games in 60 appearances with a 3.99 ERA. However his strikeout totals were down, with only 55 in 56+1⁄3 innings.[8]

After the 2024 season, Díaz and the Reds agreed to a $4.5 million contract for the following season in his first year of salary arbitration.[10] He suffered a hamstring injury early in spring training and began the 2025 season on the injured list.[11] He struggled in his return to the lineup, allowing eight runs, including four home runs, in just six innings of work, while walking five and only striking out three.[8] He gave up three of those home runs in one inning on April 30 against the St. Louis Cardinals and was optioned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats the following day.[12] In 13+2⁄3 innings in the minors, he allowed 14 hits while issuing 12 walks, surrendering seven runs for a 4.61 ERA.[1]

Los Angeles Dodgers

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On May 29, 2025, the Reds traded Díaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league pitcher Mike Villani. The Dodgers sent him to their training complex in Arizona to work on his mechanics.[13][14] After a short stretch there, he pitched in six games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets before being called up to the Dodgers on July 8.[15] He did not pitch that day and was optioned back to Triple-A the following day.[16] He made his debut with the Dodgers against the Minnesota Twins on July 22.

Personal life

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Díaz's older brother, Edwin Díaz, is a professional baseball player who currently pitches for the New York Mets.[17] Edwin earned a save on the same day that Díaz earned his first save, making them the third set of brothers to both earn a save on the same day in MLB history.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Alexis Diaz Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History".
  2. ^ a b Shusterman, Jordan (August 23, 2023). "How Reds' Alexis Díaz went from longtime minor-leaguer to elite MLB closer overnight". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  3. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". mlbtraderumors.com. June 30, 2020.
  4. ^ "Hunter Greene among five added to Cincinnati Reds roster ahead of Rule 5 Draft". November 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "Reds rookie relievers Alexis Diaz, Daniel Duarte grateful for chance in MLB".
  6. ^ "Reds rookies Daniel Duarte and Alexis Diaz impress in debuts". April 9, 2022.
  7. ^ "Díaz brothers part of history with saves on same day". MLB.com.
  8. ^ a b c d "Alexis Diaz Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  9. ^ Sheldon, Mark (July 2, 2023). "Alexis Díaz named to 1st All-Star Game". MLB.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  10. ^ Kuffner, Greg (January 9, 2025). "Reds and Closer Alexis Diaz Reach Agreement, Avoid Arbitration". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  11. ^ Magruder, Jack (March 23, 2025). "With Díaz heading to IL, Reds' closer role up for grabs". mlb.com. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  12. ^ Sheldon, Mark (May 1, 2025). "Reds option struggling Alexis Díaz; fireballer Mey called up". mlb.com. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  13. ^ Gonzalez, Alden (May 29, 2025). "Dodgers acquire ex-closer Alexis Diaz in trade with Reds". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  14. ^ Chen, Sonja (May 29, 2025). "Dodgers-Reds trade: Former All-Star closer Díaz heading to LA". MLB.com. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  15. ^ Stephen, Eric (July 8, 2025). "Dodgers call up Alexis Díaz from Triple-A, option Julian Fernández". SB Nation. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  16. ^ Stephen, Eric (July 9, 2025). "Dodgers move Michael Kopech to 60-day IL, pushing return back to August 27 at earliest". SB Nation. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  17. ^ Brown, Kyle (April 7, 2022). "Alexis Diaz makes Cincinnati Reds Opening Day roster". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Aguilera, Nick (May 18, 2022). "Edwin and Alexis Díaz record saves on same day". MLB.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
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