FRANCISCO DIAZ
CATCHER
Born: March 21, 1990
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 158
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
Signed: International Free Agent, 2006 (Phillies)
How Acquired: Rule 5 Draft, Minor League Phase
College: Venezuela
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
The Pirates selected Diaz from the Phillies in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.  He’s still young, only 21 when they selected him, and doesn’t have a lot of pro experience yet.  He hasn’t shown much with the bat and has yet to hit a professional HR, for one thing, although his eye at the plate appears to be good.  He also seems to have a good arm, as he’s thrown out 40% of opposing base stealers.

2007
VSL:  234/262/297, 158 AB, 8 2B, 1 3B, 6 BB, 25 K, 3-4 SB

Diaz hit very little in his VSL debut, with no power or walks.

2008
VSL:  289/369/369, 187 AB, 9 2B, 3 3B, 22 BB, 22 K, 8-15 SB

Had a much better season, due in part to dramatic improvement in his plate discipline.  He threw out 55% and had only two passed balls in 37 games.

2009
R:  222/323/222, 54 AB, 8 BB, 11 K
A+:  167/444/167, 6 AB, 3 BB

Diaz got only limited playing time in the GCL, as he divided time with two other catchers.  He didn’t hit when he played.

2010
R:  307/376/387, 75 AB, 6 2B, 9 BB, 9 K, 1-1 SB

Diaz returned to rookie ball and hit a lot better, although still with no power.  He threw out 41% and again had only two passed balls, but he still played less than half the time.

2011
A-:  211/315/257, 109 AB, 5 2B, 16 BB, 19 K, 3-4 SB

Did about half the catching in the NYPL and struggled at the plate, except that the good walk and K rates continued.

Diaz is a young guy who’s not very big and maybe not very developed physically.  The Pirates have had success before with catchers who struggled early on with the bat, like Carlos Paulino and Kawika Emsley-Pai, so he could turn it around.  He’s young enough that he could go to State College, or he could be in the catching mix at West Virginia.
STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2012: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2007
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2013
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
July 2, 2006: Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent.
December 8, 2011: Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.