Bees Pitcher Jhonathan Diaz Named PCL Pitcher Of The Week
May 2, 2022, 12:18 PM
Bees starting pitcher Jhonathan Diaz delivers a pitch against the Las Vegas Aviators at Smith's Ballpark. April 2022
SALT LAKE CITY – Bees starting pitcher Jhonathan Diaz has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week after delivering eight shutout innings in a Bees win last week.
Diaz twirled a gem for Salt Lake in a 2-0 Bees win on Thursday, April 28.
Jhonathan Diaz is your PCL Pitcher of the Week! pic.twitter.com/efKuB4ZFe0
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 2, 2022
Making his fourth start of the season, a first inning single and a second inning hit by pitch served as the only baserunner Round Rock could muster against a locked in Diaz. Following that second inning hit by pitch, Diaz would not allow another baserunner, retiring 17 straight batters before an error brought the streak to an end.
Throwing an efficient 92 pitches in eight innings, Diaz struck out seven Express hitters without walking a single batter while allowing on hit. Zack Weiss pitched a perfect ninth inning to preserve the win and pick up his first save of the season.
8 IP
1 H
0 R
0 BB
7 Ks#Angels southpaw Jhonathan Diaz was dialed in for the @SaltLakeBees. pic.twitter.com/obzcqnerJs— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 29, 2022
The win pushed Diaz to 2-0 this season. It was his first start without allowing a walk and second quality start with the first coming against the Las Vegas Aviators on April 14.
Diaz signed with the Angels as a free agent in 2020 after spending five seasons in the Boston Red Sox minor league system. He made his major league debut in 2021 with the Angels, appearing in three games with a pair of starts. In 13 innings with the big league club, Diaz allowed 11 hits and six earned runs but struggled with control, walking seven batters.
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With Salt Lake in 2022, Diaz has been a significant bright spot for the starting rotation. Pitching to the tune of a 1.96 earned run average, Diaz has allowed a paltry 12 hits and five earned runs. Second on the club behind Cesar Valdez with 23 innings thrown and 18 strikeouts, Diaz is the lone starter allowing less than one walk and/or hit per inning in 2022.
Diaz is currently scheduled to make his next start for the Bees at home against the Tacoma on Thursday, May 5.
The Bees continue a nine-game homestand on Tuesday, May 3 as they welcome in the Tacoma Rainiers to Smith’s Ballpark. The Bees & Rainiers opened the season against each other in Tacoma, with Salt Lake winning four out of six to begin the year. First pitch for each game Tuesday-Saturday is set for 6:35 p.m. (MST).
