Victor Diaz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #26 prospect in 2017
  Though Diaz signed with the Red Sox at age 20, much later than when most international prospects are first identified, he quickly demonstrated the sort of power arm that suggests a potential fast track as a bullpen weapon. Boston traded Diaz along with top prospects Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech and Luis Alexander Basabe to the White Sox for Chris Sale at the 2016 Winter Meetings. Diaz's 6-foot-3 frame is imposing and physically mature, and he comes at hitters with a three-pitch power mix. While Diaz's high-90s fastball--which has touched triple digits--is more of a heavy ball that induces bad contact than a swing-and-miss weapon, his slider and splitter (a pitch he developed in 2016) get plenty of whiffs. He recovered from a slow start at low Class A Greenville in 2016 with complete dominance down the stretch. In his final 39 innings, Diaz recorded a 1.38 ERA with 10.8 strikeouts and 3.5 walks per nine innings, and he concluded the campaign with 23.2 scoreless innings. His delivery keeps his full mix around the strike zone. Diaz should open 2017 at high Class A Winston-Salem and some evaluators feel he has at least a chance to fly through the system, perhaps even pushing for a big league role by the end of the year.