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When Alexis Díaz entered spring training, he was considered a longshot to make the big-league roster out of camp.
He had a stellar 2021 season in Double-A, but he was a relative unknown. He didn’t show up at the top of the Cincinnati Reds’ prospect rankings. If anything, he was most known as Edwin Díaz’s younger brother.
In six months, Díaz went from the last pitcher to make the Opening Day roster to a guy projected to be the closer of the future. All he did was become the most reliable reliever in the bullpen, leading the Reds in wins (seven) and saves (10).
It’s the first time a pitcher led a team in both categories, excluding the 60-game 2020 season, since Houston’s Doug Jones in 1992 (11 wins, 36 saves), according to Bally Sports statistician Joel Luckhaupt.
When Alexis Díaz entered spring training, he was considered a longshot to make the big-league roster out of camp.
He had a stellar 2021 season in Double-A, but he was a relative unknown. He didn’t show up at the top of the Cincinnati Reds’ prospect rankings. If anything, he was most known as Edwin Díaz’s younger brother.
Díaz entered the final game of the season Wednesday with a 1.84 ERA across 59 relief appearances with 83 strikeouts and 33 walks in 63 2/3 innings.
It can be hard to trust relievers year to year, but Díaz does a lot of things that inspire confidence he can turn into one of the league’s top closers.
Díaz does a lot of extraordinary things that can’t be taught.
He has the highest spin rate on his fastball in baseball.
He rates in the 100th percentile in the league for extension, meaning he’s closer to the plate when he’s delivering pitches and hitters have less time to react.
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