The Rockies have never had a catcher selected for the All-Star Game. Zero for 30.
Could Elias Diaz be the man to change that equation?
“Wow! Good question,” Diaz said, his eyes brightening at the thought. “For every player in the major leagues that is the dream. Everybody wants to play in the All-Star Game. I don’t know if I’ll make it but I’ll continue to play hard and we’ll see what happens.”
It’s only mid-May, so we’re a long way away from the Midsummer Classic. But through the first six weeks of the season, Diaz, 32, has been the Rockies’ best everyday player, as well as one of the best catchers in the majors.
“The thing about Elias is that he’s so capable and so willing,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s strong as a bull and he wants to play every day. There is a strong desire to do it all — and do it playing a tough position.”
As the Rockies entered a weekend series against the Phillies at Coors Field, Diaz had, indeed, done it all.
Let’s begin with defense, the top priority for any catcher worthy of his chest protector.
“He’s been fantastic,” left-hander Kyle Freeland said. “To have that trust in your catcher, knowing that he’s going to block the ball if you throw a curveball in the dirt is huge.”
Giant, too, has been Diaz’s ability to throw out would-be base thieves. His 10 caught-stealings lead the majors and he’s thrown out 53% of those who’ve attempted to swipe a bag, ranking fourth.
Monday night at Pittsburgh, Diaz threw out three would-be thieves, setting a career-high and tying the franchise record. The last Rockies catcher to record three caught-stealings in a game was Yorvit Torrealba on April 25, 2008, at Dodger Stadium. Included in Diaz’s night were two “strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out” double plays to end the first and fifth innings.
“He’s got a cannon,” Freeland said. “He’s got quick hands and he puts the ball on the money most of the time. That’s huge for us pitchers.”
Accuracy was missing from Diaz’s game last season when it was not uncommon to see him fire throws into the outfield. He finished 2022 with 11 errors, the most in the majors for a catcher, and tied with Jeff Reed (1996) for the second-most for a Rockies catcher in franchise history, trailing Wilin Rosario’s 13 in 2012.
But Diaz has worked extensively with catching/bench coach Mike Redmond on his footwork and pregame preparation. Most important, Diaz figured out speed is far less important than accuracy.
“I definitely feel like I’m in a good place,” he said. “In spring training we talked a lot about, ‘Don’t try to do too much, don’t overthrow, just be accurate.’ That’s what I’ve been doing. I mean, I don’t try to throw it 100 mph to second base.”
At the plate, Diaz has delivered, too. His .333 average leads the Rockies and he carries the best average among big-league starting catchers. Diaz’s .866 OPS is third among catchers, trailing only Atlanta’s Sean Murphy (1.040) and the Rangers’ Jonah Heim (.931).
Though Diaz would prefer to have hit more than just three home runs, he’s been Colorado’s best clutch hitter, hitting .452 (14 for 31) with runners in scoring position. Entering the weekend, his 18 RBIs led the Rockies.
Diaz is a pull hitter with power to left field. In 2021, he slashed .283/.346/.550 with 17 home runs, six doubles, one triple and 40 RBIs from June 1 through the end of the season. As a result, the Rockies signed him to a three-year, $14.5 million contract.
But word quickly got around to stay away from pitching Diaz inside or catching too much of the plate.
“When I look at the scouting reports, everybody pitches to me away,” he said. “So I had to make an adjustment and use the big part of the field. I have been able to do that so far.”
Diaz has become more adept at shooting singles up the middle or going with the pitch and dumping a hit into right field.
“We talk all of the time about hitting to the situation as the situation dictates,” Black said. “We’ve seen that from Elias. We’ve seen sacrifice flies and we’ve seen him go the other way. The approach is what’s been impressive to us. To be able to change your approach and adapt to the game situation, that’s what you want a player to do. And Elias is doing that.”
Diaz has always been a notoriously slow starter, but not this season. He’s hit .368 with four doubles, three home runs and 17 RBIs in 27 games since April 6.
“He’s getting pitches to hit, and he’s hitting them,” Black said. “The selectivity has been there. Not quite as much chase. When he’s going bad, there’s a chase in there. He’s an aggressive hitter and he’s got to be ready to hit, but he’s got to be ready to check off and stop his swing on balls out of the zone. For the most part, he’s doing that.”
If Diaz can keep it up, the Rockies just might be one for 31 come the All-Star Game.
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