Aledmys Diaz, Infield, Oakland Athletics

Date of Birth: 8/1/1990
Birthplace: Santa Clara, Cuba

Aledmys Diaz, infielder for the Oakland Athletics, played in Cuba from 2007 through part of 2012. He defected in 2012. Because he lied about his age, he couldn't sign with a major league team until February 19, 2014. Almost a month later, on March 9, 2014, he signed a four-year, $8 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Diaz played in the Cardinals' minor league system in 2014 and 2015. In 163 games, he batted .276 with 162 hits, 76 RBIs, and 101 strikeouts to 44 walks. Defensively, as a shortstop, he made 327 assists, 74 double plays, 193 putouts, and 21 errors in 122 games.

In 2016, his first season in the majors, Diaz batted .300 in 111 games with the Cardinals. He finished the season with 121 hits, 28 doubles, 17 home runs, and 65 RBIs. Defensively, as the Cardinals' shortstop in 106 games, he made 275 assists, 68 double plays, 122 putouts, and 16 errors.

Diaz finished the 2017 season with 74 hits, 17 doubles, and a .259 batting average in 79 games with the Cardinals. Defensively, he played 1 game at second base, 4 games at third base, 68 games at shortstop, and 3 games in left field.

The Cardinals traded Diaz to the Toronto Blue Jays on December 1, 2017. He finished the 2018 season with 111 hits, 26 doubles, 18 home runs, 55 RBIs, 62 strikeouts to 23 walks, and a .263 batting average in 130 games. Defensively, as a shortstop in 95 games, he made 221 assists, 55 double plays, 124 putouts, and 7 errors.

The Blue Jays traded Diaz to the Houston Astros on November 17, 2018. He spent time on the DL in 2019 with a left hamstring strain. He finished the season with 57 hits, 40 RBIs, and a .271 batting average in 69 games. Defensively, he played at all infield positions and in left field. In the postseason, he had no hits in 9 at-bats in 8 games.

Diaz played in just 17 games with the Astros in 2020. He had 14 hits and a .241 batting average. In the postseason, he batted .353 with 6 hits, including a home run, and 2 RBIs in 17 at-bats in 8 games.

Diaz spent time on the IL in 2021 with a a left hand fracture. He finished the season with 76 hits, 19 doubles, 45 RBIs, 62 strikeouts to 16 walks, and a .259 batting average in 84 games. In the postseason, he had 1 hit in 6 at-bats in 8 games.

Diaz became a free agent on November 6, 2022. He signed with the Athletics on December 13th.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Aledmys Diaz
Baseball Reference - Aledmys Diaz