Yusniel

Diaz

Díaz, a one-time top prospect viewed as the best player the Orioles got from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado deal in 2018, spent last year back in the Dodgers system, hitting .278/.374/.484 for Double-A Tulsa. He’s 27 now, and it’s not particularly likely that he’ll surface in the majors with the Giants.

If you recall, Diaz was the top prospect that the Dodgers sent to the Orioles back in 2018 for star third baseman Manny Machado. The 26-year-old has seen just one plate appearance at the big league level -- resulting in a strikeout for the Orioles during the 2022 season. He slashed .251/.346/.360 with six homers, 34 RBI and nine stolen bases in 70 contests at Triple-A Norfolk during the 2022 campaign. Perhaps a return to the Dodgers’ organization is all he needs to get his career back on track.

Diaz was the top prospect the Orioles got back from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade in 2018, but his stock has plummeted over the last couple of years. Last season, he had .251/.346/.360 with six homers in 286 plate appearances as a 25-year-old in Triple-A. He’ll be eligible for minor league free agency.

Diaz will join the Orioles for as they take on the Red Sox for the Little League Classic held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The 25-year-old outfielder is hitting .238/.327/.343 with four homers and seven steals across 196 plate appearances in Triple-A.

Diaz finally made his Orioles debut on Tuesday night, four years after getting brought in as part of the Manny Machado trade. But he will get the boot on Wednesday to clear out a spot for Brett Phillips.

He’s taking Trey Mancini’s spot on the roster, which isn’t an enviable task. Diaz has just a .677 OPS at Norfolk this season and will be making his major league debut when he gets into a game.

The Orioles are hopeful that he’ll have a normal offseason in preparation for spring training. Diaz appeared in just seven games in the AFL due to the injury after slashing just .161/.233/.265 with five homers over 65 games between Double- and Triple-A this season. The Orioles had high hopes for the 25-year-old after acquiring him from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado deal, but things haven’t worked out so far.

Diaz remains day-to-day with left shoulder soreness after sustaining the injury on a swing in late October. The Orioles will likely proceed with an abundance of caution, which means his AFL campaign could be over already after just seven games. The 25-year-old outfield prospect was the centerpiece of the blockbuster Manny Machado trade with the Dodgers back in 2018. He has yet to make his major-league debut with the Orioles.

Diaz will be re-evaluated on Thursday and the hope is that he’s avoided a serious issue and is merely sidelined for a few days. The 25-year-old outfield prospect was the centerpiece of the Manny Machado deal with the Dodgers back in 2018. He has yet to make his major-league debut with the Orioles.

Diaz is on track to make his MLB debut at some point in 2021, but it’s no surprise that the rebuilding O’s will not include him on their Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old from Cuba posted an .805 OPS with 11 home runs and 55 RBI in 85 games between three different minor league levels in 2019, finishing at Double-A Bowie.