Diaz Selected in Fifth Round by Atlanta
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami lefthander Chris Diaz became the second Hurricane taken in the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, when the Atlanta Braves selected him in the fifth round Friday afternoon.
Diaz, who was named 2014 ACC Co-Pitcher of the Year, finished the spring with a 9-1 record and a 2.41 ERA. The Hurricanes won every 2014 regular-season game started by Diaz, who became Miami’s first All-America first-team selection since Yasmani Grandal in 2010.
Diaz, who was not drafted out of high school, was selected with the 163rd overall pick.
With 101.0 innings pitched over his 16 starts, Diaz became just the 10th Hurricane to ever earn Louisville Slugger first-team All-America recognition. The Florida City, Fla., native struck out 86 batters compared to 41 walks, and held opposing hitters to a .236 average over the course of the season.
Diaz, who owns a career record of 18-7 with a dazzling 2.25 ERA, allowed two earned runs or less in 12 of his 16 starts this spring. Dating back to 2013 – his first season as a starter in the weekend rotation – the southpaw yielded two earned runs or less in 24 of 32 starts.
Diaz joins Andrew Suarez (second round, Washington Nationals) as Hurricane draftees through the first five rounds. The 2014 MLB Draft continues this weekend, with rounds 3-10 taking place on Fri., June 6 at 1 p.m. The draft will resume with rounds 11-40 on Sat., June 7 at 1 p.m
