Bats Right Throws Right Earned Run Average 2.79 Saves 18 Weight 75 kg Date joined 2016 (Seattle Mariners) | Win–loss record 0–4 Strikeouts 88 Height 1.9 m Salary 507,500 USD (2016) | |
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Similar Steve Cishek, James Paxton, Mike Zunino, Scott Servais, Leonys Martín Profiles | ||
Edwin Orlando "Sugar" Díaz Laboy (born March 22, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his major league debut in June 2016 and within two months had broken the Mariners' record for consecutive strikeouts and was named the team's closer.
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Early life
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Díaz played as an outfielder during his youth along players like Carlos Correa and José Berríos. His first attempt at pitching took place during his teen years at the insistence of his eponymous father, in a role that he first took with reluctance.
Minor Leagues (2012–2016)
Díaz was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft out of Caguas Military Academy in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He made his professional debut that season for the Arizona League Mariners. In nine games (one start) he went 2–1 with a 5.21 earned run average (ERA) with 20 strikeouts in 19 innings. In 2013, he pitched for the Pulaski Mariners. In 13 starts, he went 5–2 with a 1.43 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 69 innings. Prior to the 2014 season, Díaz was named the Mariners fifth best prospect by Baseball America. He spent the season with the Clinton LumberKings and was co-selected the organization's minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year along Jordan Pries. In 2015, he played for the Bakersfield Blaze and Jackson Generals. That year, he won the recognition of minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season. Díaz started 2016 with Jackson as a starting pitcher and was moved to the bullpen after six starts.
Seattle Mariners (2016–present)
Díaz was called up to the major leagues for the first time on June 4, 2016. Between June 28 and July 3, he recorded ten consecutive outs via strikeout, tying a franchise record set in 1997. On July 6, 2016, Díaz broke the record with his 11th consecutive out via strikeout. Between July 19 and July 22, 2016, he recorded 8 consecutive strikeouts, tying him for second place with four different American League pitchers (Doug Fister set the AL record, with 9, on September 27, 2012).
On August 1, 2016, Díaz replaced Steve Cishek as the Mariners' closer. He recorded the first save of his career the following day, in a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox, in which he struck out the side. By reaching his 50th strikeout in only 25 and a third innings, Díaz became the first pitcher to do so in 123 years.