D¨ªaz earns first ASG nod for Rockies catcher
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DENVER -- Rockies catcher Elias Díaz arrived at Spring Training vowing to keep each day -- good or bad -- from influencing the next. He certainly wasn¡¯t carrying the history of the franchise with him into each game.
D¨ªaz¡¯s simple approach helped him achieve something no Rockies catcher had done in 30 previous seasons the team had existed -- an invitation to represent the club in the All-Star Game. D¨ªaz was announced Sunday as an MLB choice to the National League squad for the July 11 Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: July 11 on FOX
Rockies manager Bud Black informed D¨ªaz and the club during an emotional meeting before Sunday¡¯s 14-9 loss to the Tigers at Coors Field. The presence of countryman Miguel Cabrera added color to the in-stadium announcement when some fans unfurled Venezuela¡¯s yellow, blue and red flag.
¡°It¡¯s something very special. The way that it happened, I wasn¡¯t anticipating it at all,¡± said D¨ªaz, who usually does interviews in English but spoke in Spanish, with bullpen catcher Aaron Mu?oz interpreting, as a nod to family and friends who have supported him throughout his life.
¡°I'm grateful for the way the season has gone, grateful for the team, grateful for my family¡¯s support and truly honored,¡± D¨ªaz added.
Through Sunday, D¨ªaz is slashing .284/.337/.789 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs, with overall performance numbers that are among the top handful of players at his position in the Majors.
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¡°The guys have come to appreciate Elias in a number of ways -- the care factor for the Rockies, the care factor for his pitchers as teammates,¡± Black said. ¡°It¡¯s great because it¡¯s understated. He¡¯s pretty quiet, but you can tell there¡¯s a big heart in there.¡±
The honor is a reward for a bounce-back performance in 2023.
Non-tendered after appearing in five seasons with the Pirates (2015-19), D¨ªaz signed with the Rockies and became the primary catcher during the final days of the 2020 season. He started slowly in ¡¯21, with a .123 average through June 1. But he hit .284 the rest of the way, with 17 of his 18 total homers. Defensively, his 42.1 percent caught-stealing rate was second in the Majors (among catchers with at least 60 starts) to Royals star Salvador Perez¡¯s 43.9 percent.
D¨ªaz and the Rockies avoided arbitration after the season with a three-year, $14.5 million agreement. While the deal was club-friendly for a starting catcher, an appreciative D¨ªaz admittedly pressed to justify the contract. There was improvement in the final months, but D¨ªaz¡¯s .228/.281/.368 slash line was not what he or the club expected.
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During the offseason at home in Venezuela, D¨ªaz worked out with friends who had played in the Minors and knew his swing best. He followed that up with real attention to his psychological side.
D¨ªaz started the season with an honor -- a selection to Team Colombia (his father is from Colombia) for the World Baseball Classic. This season, D¨ªaz overcame his penchant for slow starts by batting .343 through his first 31 appearances.
¡°I've been fortunate that I've been at this level for quite a bit now, and the game teaches you everything,¡± D¨ªaz said. ¡°I've been able to adjust when necessary. Being up here taught me to be a little bit more patient and take it day by day. If something didn't happen that day, I know the next day I can be a little bit more positive and bring that energy.¡±
The Rockies have regularly placed him in the cleanup spot and at times make him the designated hitter to avoid some of catching¡¯s wear and tear.