Einar Díaz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Einar Díaz |
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Díaz with the Baltimore Orioles
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: December 28, 1972 Chiriquí Province, Panama |
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| debut | |||
| September 9, 1996, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 16, 2006, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .254 | ||
| Home runs | 21 | ||
| Runs batted in | 202 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Einar Antonio Díaz (born December 28, 1972) is a professional baseball player from Panama. He is also a coach. Einar Díaz played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for several teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, and Los Angeles Dodgers. His career in MLB lasted from 1996 to 2006. As of 2025, he is a coach for the AAA Gwinnett Stripers.
Contents
Einar Díaz's Baseball Journey
Starting His MLB Career
Einar Díaz first joined the Cleveland Indians in 1996. He was a backup catcher for Sandy Alomar Jr. For a few years, from 1996 to 1998, he played only sometimes. In 1999, he got his first chance to be a starting catcher. This happened because Alomar was injured.
Becoming a Main Catcher
From 2001 to 2002, Díaz was the main starting catcher for the Cleveland Indians. After the 2002 season, he was traded to the Texas Rangers. He was meant to take the place of Iván Rodríguez, another famous catcher. This was the last time Díaz would be a starting player in his career.
Playing as a Backup
After his time with the Rangers, Díaz continued his career as a backup catcher. He played for the Montreal Expos in 2004. Then, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005. In 2006, he played for the minor league team, the Buffalo Bisons.
A Pitching Moment
On June 4, 2006, something unusual happened. Einar Díaz, who was a catcher, actually pitched in a game for the Buffalo Bisons! He was the pitcher who lost that game.
Later Trades and Injury
Díaz was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 12, 2006. The Dodgers needed another backup catcher at the time. He only had three chances to bat for the Dodgers. He got two hits in those three tries.
After the 2006 season, Díaz signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was sent to their Triple-A team, the Indianapolis Indians. On June 30, 2007, Díaz was scoring a run from third base. He suffered a serious injury to his knee when he crossed home plate. This injury made him miss the rest of that season.
Einar Díaz's Coaching Career
Starting as a Coach
Einar Díaz stopped playing baseball at the end of the 2007 season. In 2008, the Cleveland Indians invited him to their spring training camp. He worked as a special helper for catchers. Later, he became a field coach for the Gulf Coast Orioles. This team is part of the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system.
Managing and Hitting Coach Roles
On January 12, 2009, the Orioles made him the manager of the Rookie League Bluefield Orioles. He also worked as the batting coach for the Delmarva Shorebirds. On April 1, 2013, the Orioles promoted Díaz to assistant hitting coach. The entire coaching staff, including Díaz, was let go after the 2018 season.
Current Coaching Role
In 2019, Díaz was named a coach for the AAA Gwinnett Stripers. As of 2025, he is the hitting coach for the FCL Braves. This team is a rookie league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
See also
In Spanish: Einar Díaz para niños
