Yandy Diaz, Outfield, Tampa Bay Rays

Date of Birth: 8/8/1991
Birthplace: Sagua la Grande, Cuba

Yandy Diaz, outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, played professional baseball in Cuba before defecting. He signed with the Cleveland Indians on September 20, 2013. As a minor league player from 2014 through 2016, he had an unusually high number of walks. He walked 198 times while striking out just 191 times. In 2015, he led the Eastern League in on-base percentage with .412. He was fourth in batting average with .315. The following season, he was named the International League Rookie of the Year. In 2016, he led the league in on-base percentage and he was second in batting average (.325).

Diaz spent much of the 2017 season in the minors. In 49 games with the Indians, he batted .263 with 41 hits. He didn't play in the postseason.

Diaz batted .312 with 34 hits in 39 games with the Indians in 2018. In the postseason, he had 1 hit, a double, in 3 at-bats in 1 game. During the regular season, he also played in 98 games in the minors.

The Indians traded Diaz to the Rays on December 13, 2018. He was on the DL three times in 2019. He finished the season with 82 hits, 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 38 RBIs, 61 strikeouts to 35 walks, and a .267 batting average in 79 games. Defensively, he played 22 games at first base and 50 games at third base. In the postseason, he had 3 hits, 2 home runs, 2 RBIs, 4 strikeouts to no walks, and a .231 batting average in 13 at-bats in 4 games.

Diaz played in 34 games in 2020. He finished the season with 35 hits and a .307 batting average. Defensively, he played 2 games at first base and 25 games at third base. In the postseason, he batted .194 with 7 hits in 36 at-bats in 13 games.

Diaz finished the 2021 season with 119 hits, 20 doubles, 13 home runs, 64 RBIs, 85 strikeouts to 69 walks, and a .256 batting average in 134 games. In the postseason, he had 3 hits and 2 RBIs in 15 at-bats in 4 games.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Yandy Diaz
MiLB - Yandy Diaz