Alexis Diaz, born on September 28, 1996, is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Díaz's baseball journey started when the Reds selected him in the 12th round of the 2015 MLB draft.
In 2022, he made his MLB debut against the Atlanta Braves, where he tossed a scoreless inning and collected his first two strikeouts. He went on to earn his first save on May 17, 2022, against the Cleveland Guardians.
Before making his professional debut, Alexis Diaz played in the Arizona League Reds, appearing in nine games. He returned to the team in 2017 after missing the 2016 season due to an injury and pitched to a 4.94 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 13 appearances. In 2018, he played for the rookie-level Greeneville Reds, posting a 3–3 record and 3.02 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 11 games, nine of them starts.
Alexis Diaz split the 2019 season between the AZL Reds and the Single-A Dayton Dragons, logging a 7–4 record and 5.19 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 59.0 innings pitched across 27 appearances for the two teams. Alexis Diaz was not able to play in 2020 due to the cancelation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he played for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, posting a 3.83 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 42.1 innings across 35 contests.
Alexis Diaz's rise to the majors is impressive, considering that he was drafted in the 12th round. He has proven to be an effective pitcher, with a 1.84 ERA and 83 strikeouts through the 2022 season. The Reds added him to their 40-man roster following the 2021 season, signifying their belief in his potential.
Off the field, Díaz's family has a strong connection to baseball. His older brother, Edwin Díaz, is also a professional baseball player who currently pitches for the New York Mets. The two brothers made history when they both earned saves on the same day in the MLB, making them the third set of brothers to achieve the feat.
What happened to Alexis Diaz in the WBC?
On Wednesday, after a game against the Dominican Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Díaz's brother Edwin suffered a serious injury that left Alexis deeply affected. Following Edwin Diaz’ injury, Alexis was seen crying as their teammates helped his brother off the field.
The injury was later revealed to be a torn rotator cuff, which would require surgery and force Edwin to miss a significant portion of the season. Despite the setback, Edwin remained optimistic and expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his family and fans.
Alexis Diaz is a promising young pitcher with a bright future in baseball. He has worked hard to overcome setbacks and make his way to the major leagues, where he has already made an impact.
His connection to baseball runs deep, with his brother also being a successful MLB player. Their emotional moment on the field after Edwin's injury showcased the bond between the two brothers and the support they provide for each other, both on and off the field.