Rockies’ Diaz wins All-Star Game MVP after hitting go-ahead, two-run homer

Baseball

Published 12.07.2023

Rockies’ Diaz wins All-Star Game MVP after hitting go-ahead, two-run homer

SEATTLE (AP) — Elias Diaz would be the very unlikely All-Star MVP.

Just 3 1/2 years after Pittsburgh failed to supply a contract and allowed him to change into a free agent, Diaz hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Felix Bautista within the eighth inning to elevate the National League over the American 3-2 on Tuesday evening.

A primary-time All-Star at age 32, the Colorado catcher put his identify on an award received by Willie Mays, Joe Morgan, Frank and Brooks Robinson, each Ken Griffeys and Mike Trout.

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“I honestly can’t believe that my name is going to be next to some of those names,” Diaz mentioned by means of a translator, clutching the crystal bat awarded the MVP. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be in this position.”

After 5 years with the Pirates, Diaz came upon from his agent in December 2019 he had been non-tendered.

“When they let me go, I didn’t allow myself to feel defeated,” Diaz mentioned. “I maintained my confidence and stayed positive.”

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He acquired a minor league take care of the Rockies a month later, made the large league roster at first of the pandemic-delated 2020 season and earned a $1.2 million huge league contract for 2021. He hit .246 with 18 homers and 44 RBIs, and Colorado rewarded him with a $14.5 million, three-year settlement.

Diaz batted .228 with 9 homers and 51 RBIs final yr, then earned his first All-Star journey by batting .277 with 9 homers and 45 RBIs heading into this yr’s break.

“He’s really improved in every phase of his game,” mentioned NL supervisor Rob Thomson of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Thomson had known as Rockies supervisor Bud Black to find out about Diaz.

“He said: `This is one of the finest people you’ll ever meet. He’s a complete team player,”’ Thomson associated. “`Do anything you want. If he doesn’t play, that’s fine. If he does play, that would be great. He’s just happy to be there.”’

With the AL main 2-1, Nick Castellanos labored a nine-pitch stroll towards Bautista main off the eighth. Diaz batted for Jorge Soler and with a 2-2 depend drove a splitter 360 toes, the place it landed underneath the guide scoreboard behind the left-field wall. The twentieth pinch homer in All-Star historical past was a no-doubt drive. Diaz took three small steps and watched earlier than beginning his trot.

“A splitter that stayed up in the zone,” mentioned Bautista, who had given up one homer in 56 at-bats this season ending with that pitch.

Diaz jumped as he approached the dugout and exchanged slaps with teammates. Geraldo Perdomo doused him with water. A short time later, he turned the primary Venezuelan to earn All-Star MVP since Dave Concepcion in 1972. Diaz’s jersey goes to the Hall of Fame.

“Maybe the third or fourth inning, Orlando Arcia, he was telling me that `Hey, you’re going to go up to bat you’re going to hit a home run, and you’re going to win the MVP,”’ Diaz recalled. “I didn’t think it was going to turn into all this.”