Diaz went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the White Sox.
Diaz led off the fourth with a solo blast to left field off of Lucas Giolito for his first career major league home run. The 24-year-old has rotated in behind the plate with Martin Maldonado but doesn't have a path to a near everyday role unless Maldonado is forced to miss time. Diaz is now slashing .217/.250/.348 with four RBI, sux runs and a 2:11 BB:K over 52 plate appearances.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Collects two hits
Rotowire
Diaz went 2-for-3 with one double in Tuesday's 2-0 loss against the Giants.
Diaz was the only bright spot for the Houston offense, as he picked two of the team's three hits. The rookie is Hunter Brown's personal catcher, but he is stuck behind Martin Maldonado on the depth chart. Diaz had an .898 OPS across Double-A and Triple-A last season. If he ever receives regular playing time, his bat could provide fantasy value from the catcher position.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Sitting out Sunday
Rotowire
Diaz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Diaz will sit for the second time in four games after previously logging one start apiece at catcher and designated hitter and going hitless with one walk between those two contests. Martin Maldonado is locked in as Houston's primary backstop, but Diaz and Corey Julks could vie for regular reps out of the DH spot while Michael Brantley (shoulder) is on the shelf.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Gets start in DH spot
Rotowire
Diaz is starting in the designated hitter spot and batting sixth for the Astros in Thursday's opener versus the White Sox.
The Astros are carrying three catchers in part so they can use Diaz at DH and he's in that slot for the first regular-season contest. It enhances his fantasy outlook, although he might not yet be catcher-eligible in your league. Worth remembering is that Michael Brantley (shoulder) will be used at DH when he's ready, as will Yordan Alvarez.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Makes Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Astros manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Diaz has won a spot on the Opening Day roster, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Diaz excelled in the upper minors last season, slashing .306/.356/.542 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI in 105 games between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. His primary position is catcher, but the 24-year-old has played some corner outfield and first base, and he might also be an option at DH for the reigning World Series champions.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Chance to earn role
Rotowire
Diaz will have the chance to win the backup catcher job this spring, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports.
Martin Maldonado is penciled in as the starting backstop in Houston, but the depth chart is unresolved from there. Diaz seems big-league ready with the bat -- he maintained a 121 wRC+ across 219 plate appearances with Triple-A Sugar Land in 2022 -- but his defense is more questionable. Upon reporting to camp, Diaz noted that he focused on improving all facets of his defense this offseason in an effort to stick in the majors. He is competing with fellow prospect Korey Lee for the role, though Diaz's bat-first profile may help him given that Maldonado is a strong defensive catcher but offers little at the plate.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Collects first RBI
Rotowire
Diaz went 0-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Friday's 4-2 win over the Angels.
Diaz made his major-league debut Friday, and he drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the Astros' fourth run. The 23-year-old is a natural catcher, but he was the designated hitter Friday and doesn't seem likely to displace Martin Maldonado and Christian Vazquez behind the dish. Diaz had a solid 6.1 percent walk rate and a disciplined 17.8 percent strikeout rate in 48 games with Triple-A Sugar Land prior to his call-up. He slashed .294/.342/.587 with 16 home runs, 48 RBI and 38 runs scored at the highest level of the minors, though there's probably not a regular role waiting for him in the Houston lineup.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Contract officially selected
Rotowire
Diaz's contract was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz has been productive at Sugar Land this season but has been particularly dominant at the plate over the last two weeks. He's put together eight multi-hit performances over the last 12 games and has slashed .393/.443/.661 with four home runs, three doubles, 17 runs and 14 RBI over that stretch. The 23-year-old will provide catching depth for the Astros, but he also has experience at first base and the corner-outfield spots.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: MLB debut coming soon
Rotowire
Diaz will have his contract selected from Triple-A Sugar Land when rosters expand Sept. 1, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Diaz will need to wait a few more days before officially receiving his first chance in the big leagues. He will not only add depth behind the dish down the stretch, but he also has experience at first base and the corner-outfield spots. The 23-year-old began his 2022 campaign in Double-A before getting promoted to Triple-A on June 21, where he's slashed .294/.342/.587 with 16 home runs, 48 RBI, one stolen base and 38 runs scored over 48 games.
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Astros' Yainer Diaz: Rises to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Astros promoted Diaz from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Diaz makes the jump to Triple-A after slashing .316/.367/.504 with nine home runs and 48 RBI across 267 plate appearances at Corpus Christi. At Sugar Land, he'll be part of a catching group that includes one of the Astros' other top prospects in Korey Lee. Since Diaz also made starts at first base as well as the corner-outfield spots during his time at Corpus Christi, Lee still appears likely to see most of the work behind the plate.
