Victor Diaz

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Mets #8 prospect in 2005
  Diaz won two batting titles in two full seasons in the Dodgers system before joining the Mets as part of the Jeromy Burnitz deal in 2003. He has continued to hit, including three homers in his 15-game big league debut last September. The biggest blast was a three-run shot in the ninth on Sept. 25 against the Cubs, signaling the beginning of their fall. Diaz has a quick bat that sprays line drives. In past years, there was a concern that he never would have more than gap power, but he hit 27 homers in 2004. His arm is average and better suited to the outfield than the infield, where he played until last season. Diaz never will be a selective hitter. His increased power came with a corresponding jump in strikeouts. He doesn't run well and that shows in the outfield, where he makes routine plays but little more. Conditioning never has been his forte. The Mets still don't know if Diaz is a future big league regular or just a useful reserve. The Carlos Beltran signing means he'll have to come off the bench in 2005 once Mike Cameron returns from wrist surgery.
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  Ranked New York Mets #9 prospect in 2004
  Diaz won two batting titles in his first two pro seasons before the Dodgers packaged him with righthanders Joselo Diaz and Kole Strayhorn in the Jeromy Burnitz trade in July. Born in the Dominican Republic, Diaz played high school baseball in Chicago before becoming a junior college all-American. Scouts and managers have compared Diaz to Carlos Baerga, another stocky second baseman with a live bat. Line drives fly off of Diaz' bat despite his unorthodox hitting approach. He's strong and has good opposite-field power. Diaz doesn't control his weight well, which has hurt his range and speed. The Dodgers tried him at first, second and third base without finding a good fit. If he stays in shape, he might have enough range to go with his good hands at second. He needs to show more patience at the plate. Diaz hit .320-3-17 in the Dominican League over the winter to win the league's rookie of the year award, and he worked on his defense and getting in better shape. He should move up to Triple-A, but with the signing of Kazuo Matsui and the move of Jose Reyes to second, his long-term role with the Mets is in question.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #12 prospect in 2003
  Born in the Dominican Republic, Diaz went to high school in Chicago and was selected as a draft-and-follow pick before his freshman season at Grayson County (Texas) CC, which also produced John Lackey. Diaz has won batting titles in the Gulf Coast and South Atlantic leagues in his first two pro seasons. While he has a slightly unorthodox, free-swinging approach at the plate, he has plus bat speed and bat-head control. He can drive the ball into the alleys but probably won't hit for above-average home run power. Though he's stocky with a thick lower half, he's an above-average runner when he puts forth full effort. Scouts have questioned his work ethic since high school. He appears lackadaisical, especially in the field. He enjoys hitting so much that some scouts believe he just blows off working on his defensive skills. The Dodgers moved him from third to second to first base last year, and still aren't sure where he'll end up. He has plenty of arm strength, but lacks the hands and the first-step quickness for third base. Los Angeles would like to see him handle second base. He'll try to take home a third batting title in Double-A this season.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #26 prospect in 2002
  Diaz couldn't have been much more impressive in his pro debut after signing last May as a draft-and-follow. He won the Gulf Coast League batting title and also led the circuit in hits, doubles, extra-base hits (27), total bases (104) and slugging percentage (.533). He also helped guide the Dodgers' GCL entry to a league-best 41-19 record. Diaz attracted comparisons to Carlos Baerga with his fundamentally sound approach at the plate and his uncanny pop for a middle infielder. Also like Baerga, however, Diaz isn't a standout defender at second base. His hands aren't soft, and neither his arm nor his glove is really steady enough for the infield. Diaz could add some more strength to produce enough power for left field. His bat should enable him to make the climb to low Class A while he continues to search for a position.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked South Atlantic League #16 prospect in 2002
  Managers rated Diaz the league's best batting prospect in the midseason Best Tools survey, and he led the league in hitting despite a mid-July promotion to Double-A. The Dodgers may have pushed him too aggressively, as he batted just .211 in the Southern League. A capable defender at second base as well as the corner infield positions, Diaz continues to show steady improvement with the glove. He has decent hands and a strong, accurate arm. South Georgia manager Scott Little raved about Diaz' work ethic and instincts on the diamond. While his hitting skills are obvious, the 6-foot, 200-pounder also possesses deceptive speed for his size. "He was one of the toughest outs in the league this year," Beyeler said. "He can drive the ball to all fields and has a knack for coming through with a key hit. He's an impact player who rises to the occasion."
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #7 prospect in 2001
  A 37th-round pick of the Dodgers in 2000, the stocky Diaz signed as a draft-and-follow in May out of Grayson County (Texas) Community College. He won the GCL batting title while leading the league in hits, doubles, total bases (104) and slugging percentage (.533). "He reminds you a lot of Carlos Baerga," Dangler said. "He's a fundamentally sound hitter, but he needs to find a position." Dodgers manager Juan Bustabad defended his player's ability at second base, though he said Diaz needs to make the routine plays better.

• December, 2000 Scouting Report
  A 37th-round pick of the Dodgers in 2000, the stocky Diaz signed as a draft-and-follow in May out of Grayson County (Texas) Community College. He won the GCL batting title while leading the league in hits, doubles, total bases (104) and slugging percentage (.533). "He reminds you a lot of Carlos Baerga," Dangler said. "He's a fundamentally sound hitter, but he needs to find a position." Dodgers manager Juan Bustabad defended his player's ability at second base, though he said Diaz needs to make the routine plays better.