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
Country: 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.  He showed good defensive skills in camp in 2012.

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.

2012
A:  302/388/397, 126 AB, 9 2B, 1 HR, 17 BB, 31 K, 0-1 SB
A+:  167/211/167, 36 AB, 2 BB, 14 K, 0-1 SB

Diaz opened 2012 as the backup catcher at Bradenton, but he moved down to West Virginia once Kawika Emsley-Pai recovered from a wrist problem.  He hit surprisingly well with the Power, but the backup catcher/small sample size caveat applies.  It did get him more playing time, though; after he hit .423 in July, he roughly shared the catching job with the struggling Elias Diaz.  While with West Virginia he threw out 21% of base runners. 

Diaz will open 2013 at West Virginia, backing up Wyatt Mathisen.
STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2013: 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.