Jairo Díaz

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Jairo Díaz

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1991|5|27}}

|birth_place=Puerto la Cruz, Anzoátegui, Venezuela

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 8

|debutyear = 2014

|debutteam = Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = September 26

|finalyear = 2020

|finalteam = Colorado Rockies

| statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 7–7

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.86

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 108

|awards =

|teams =

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ({{mlby|2014}})
Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2015}}, {{mlby|2017}}, {{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2020}})

}}

Jairo Jose Díaz Hernandaz (born May 27, 1991) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2014 and also played for the Colorado Rockies from 2015 to 2020, missing 2016 due to Tommy John surgery.

Career

=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim=

In 2014, Diaz played for the Inland Empire 66ers of the High–A California League and the Arkansas Travelers of the Double–A Texas League, and pitched to a 3.48 earned run average (ERA) with 85 strikeouts in {{frac|64|2|3}} innings pitched. The Angels promoted him to the major leagues on September 8.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/angels/angels-634114-game-one.html|title=Hamilton still out as Angels return to Cleveland: Angels Blog: Orange County Register|work=The Orange County Register|date=September 8, 2014|access-date=September 19, 2014}} Díaz made his MLB debut that day, recording two strikeouts.{{cite web|url=http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/93687922/angels-promote-right-handed-reliever-jairo-diaz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911001838/http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/93687922/angels-promote-right-handed-reliever-jairo-diaz|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2014|title=Diaz strikes out two in MLB debut after callup - angels.com|work=MLB.com|access-date=September 19, 2014}}

=Colorado Rockies=

On December 11, 2024, the Angels traded Díaz to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Josh Rutledge.{{cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_27114439/rockies-trade-josh-rutledge-angels-reliever-jairo-diaz|title=Rockies trade Josh Rutledge to Angels for reliever Jairo Diaz|first=Patrick|last=Saunders|work=The Denver Post|date=December 11, 2014|access-date=March 7, 2016}} During the 2015 season, Díaz had a 3–5 record and a 4.58 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 47 appearances for the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League and a 2.37 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 21 appearances with the Rockies. During spring training in 2016, Díaz tore a ligament in his right elbow that would require Tommy John surgery.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-166450690|title=Colorado Rockies' Jairo Diaz to undergo Tommy John surgery – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=March 7, 2016}} Díaz was designated for assignment on June 10, 2018, and subsequently released on June 14.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/06/mets-outright-jose-lobaton.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 6/14/18|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 14, 2018|access-date=June 14, 2018}} A day later, he re-signed with the Rockies to a minor league contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/06/rockies-to-re-sign-jairo-diaz.html|title=Rockies To Re-Sign Jairo Diaz|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 18, 2018|access-date=June 19, 2018}} He elected free agency following the season on November 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|work=Baseball America|first=Matt|last=Eddy|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=November 12, 2018}}

On December 21, 2018, Díaz re-signed to a minor league contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/minor-mlb-transactions-1219.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 1/2/19|last=Polishuk|first=Mark|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=January 2, 2018}} He was called up on May 22, 2019, to the MLB roster. He would remain in the bullpen for the Rockies for the remainder of the season, posting a record of 6–4 in 56 games with 5 saves. In 2020, his performance regressed as he finished with a 7.65 ERA in 24 games with 4 saves. His control also worsened as he induced 14 walks in 20 innings. On April 1, 2021, Díaz was designated for assignment following the signing of Jhoulys Chacín.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/rockies-dfa-jairo-diaz.html|title=Rockies Outright Jairo Diaz}} On April 5, Díaz was outrighted to the alternate training site.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/rockies-dfa-jairo-diaz.html|title=Rockies Outright Jairo Diaz}}

Díaz spent the 2021 season with Triple-A Albuquerque. There, he made 9 appearances and struggled to a 7.36 ERA with 10 strikeouts. On October 5, Díaz elected free agency.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/10/players-recently-electing-free-agency.html|title=Players Recently Electing Free Agency|website=MLB Trade Rumors|author=Anthony Franco|date=October 7, 2021|access-date=October 7, 2021}}

=Gastonia Honey Hunters=

On April 6, 2022, Díaz signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mariners-jairo-diaz-signs-milb-deal-with-mariners/|title = Mariners' Jairo Diaz: Signs MiLB deal with Mariners}} On June 7, it was announced that Díaz's deal with the Mariners had never been finalized, and that he was signing with an independent team.{{Cite web|title=Jairo Diaz: Continuing career in indy ball|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/jairo-diaz-continuing-career-in-indy-ball/amp/|access-date=2023-02-08|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

On June 7, 2022, Díaz signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He appeared in 4 games, going 0–1 with a 5.40 ERA and 1 strikeout in {{fraction|3|1|3}} innings pitched. Díaz was released by the team on July 19.{{cite web | url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/ | title=Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions }}