Joselo Diaz

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #29 prospect in 2005
  Scott Kazmir wasn't the only flamethrower the Mets included in their widely panned trade for Victor Zambrano. Though Diaz was unspectacular in seven Double-A outings after the deal and ranked second in the minors in walks, he has a potentially lethal arsenal. He has an explosive mid-90s fastball, as well as a promising changeup that could make his heater all but unhittable. However, he's still very much a work in progress. Originally signed as a catcher by the Dodgers, Diaz batted .195 in four seasons before moving to the mound. His command isn't much better than his hitting ability, and he's still learning the nuances of pitching. His mechanics need refinement, particularly in terms of keeping his head still and repeating his delivery, which would improve his ability to locate his pitches. He needs to trust his changeup more often, and his hard breaking ball is far from reliable. The Devil Rays will try to be patient, and they'll send him back to Double-A this year.
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  Ranked New York Mets #17 prospect in 2004
  Diaz has a lot to learn about pitching, not surprising considering he was a catcher in 2002. He peaked in high Class A as a position player, and it became clear that his strong arm wouldn't make up for a .195 career average. He quickly has developed two potential plus pitches, though he's still more of a thrower than a pitcher. Diaz has a 95-96 mph fastball. He tired after getting traded from the Dodgers and popped the mitt at just 91-92 in the Arizona Fall League. He has flashed a changeup that some scouts think can be a plus pitch, but he doesn't feature it enough during games. He throws his curveball too hard, almost giving it a slider action and making it nearly impossible for him to locate it consistently. He also needs to work on keeping his head still during his delivery, which has contributed to his wildness. Though Diaz has a long way to go, there's a high ceiling to go with the high risk. He'll head to Double-A this year.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #27 prospect in 2002
  Managers in both the Pioneer and South Atlantic leagues raved about how Diaz' defensive abilities were no worse than major league average last year. He's one of the best catch-and-throw guys in the minors. His throws were timed consistently in the 1.85-second range at Wilmington and as low as 1.75 at Great Falls, where he gunned down 45 percent of basestealers. Opposing skippers admitted that Diaz completely shut down their running games. Several scouts who saw Ivan Rodriguez at the same point in his development compare Diaz favorably to him, and people in the Dodgers organization compare him to Steve Yeager, one of the organization's best defensive catchers ever. The missing element is Diaz' inability to put the bat on the ball. He hit a combined .184 last year and has not batted higher than .219 in four minor league seasons. Given his arm strength and his impotent bat, there's the possibility that Diaz could move to the mound. Los Angeles successfully converted Felix Rodriguez from catcher to pitcher and is trying to do the same with Will McCrotty. For now, however, the Dodgers will hope Diaz' bat will come around when he begins 2002 in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pioneer League #6 prospect in 2001
  From a catch-and-throw standpoint, Diaz is as good as it gets. Every manager raved about his work behind the plate. Comparisons to Ivan Rodriguez weren’t uncommon, with Diaz displaying outstanding arm strength and a glove-to-glove time of 1.75-1.85 seconds on throws from home to second. He erased 45 percent of basestealers, the top mark in the Pioneer League. "He completely shuts down the running game," Hale said. "I think you could make him your backup catcher in the big leagues right now and he would help most any team." The downside centers on Diaz's bat, or lack thereof, after he didn’t reach the Mendoza Line this summer, his fifth in the Dodgers system. Though some managers believe he might hit for a higher average as he moves up because pitchers will throw more strikes, at least two skippers thought his future might be on the mound, given his arm strength. "There's no one in the league who can catch and throw like Diaz," Billings manager Rick Burleson said. "But his bat is just not coming on. That's the big question: How long will the Dodgers go with him before putting him on the mound?"
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  Ranked Pioneer League #10 prospect in 2000
  It seemed as if every manager raved about a different part of Diaz' defense. Some loved his blocking skills, others his arm, others his receiving. All of them liked his overall defensive game. The problem is Diaz hit .219. He's just 20 and showed some power, but he missed all of 1999 with an injury and will have to improve rapidly on offense. "He can shut down a running game, though," Helena manager Dan Norman said.

• December, 2000 Scouting Report
  From a catch-and-throw standpoint, Diaz is as good as it gets. Every manager raved about his work behind the plate. Comparisons to Ivan Rodriguez weren’t uncommon, with Diaz displaying outstanding arm strength and a glove-to-glove time of 1.75-1.85 seconds on throws from home to second. He erased 45 percent of basestealers, the top mark in the Pioneer League. "He completely shuts down the running game," Hale said. "I think you could make him your backup catcher in the big leagues right now and he would help most any team." The downside centers on Diaz's bat, or lack thereof, after he didn’t reach the Mendoza Line this summer, his fifth in the Dodgers system. Though some managers believe he might hit for a higher average as he moves up because pitchers will throw more strikes, at least two skippers thought his future might be on the mound, given his arm strength. "There's no one in the league who can catch and throw like Diaz," Billings manager Rick Burleson said. "But his bat is just not coming on. That's the big question: How long will the Dodgers go with him before putting him on the mound?"
• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  It seemed as if every manager raved about a different part of Diaz' defense. Some loved his blocking skills, others his arm, others his receiving. All of them liked his overall defensive game. The problem is Diaz hit .219. He's just 20 and showed some power, but he missed all of 1999 with an injury and will have to improve rapidly on offense. "He can shut down a running game, though," Helena manager Dan Norman said.