Miami Marlins: Isan Díaz
The Miami Marlins once again look to be racing towards the bottom of the NL East in 2020. However, it will not be long before we see the Marlins reap the benefits of their rebuild. One of those potential benefits took a glimpse into the Majors last season: Isan Díaz. In 179 at-bats last season, Díaz slashed a meager .173/.259/.307.
Obviously, it is not time to worry yet, the 24-year-old has not had enough exposure to the big leagues; which is exactly what this season should be for Díaz and all the other young prospects for Miami: exposure. With the bottom of the barrel expectations, there is no pressure on the youngsters in South Beach. This season should act as a more intense Spring Training for the prospects in Miami.
Look for Díaz and a smattering of other future MLB regulars to potentially hit their
stride and gain valuable experience towards the end of the shortened season this year.
New York Mets: Edwin Díaz
In December of 2018, The New York Mets completed a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Mariners that sent high-profile talents Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz to Queens. Canó showed glimpses of his former stellar offensive production but saw a bit of a drop-off in consistency in 2019.
Edwin Díaz had a 2019 season that is likely to send shivers down the spines of Mets fans, garnering a disappointing 5.59 ERA and even setting the single-season record for 9th inning home runs surrendered at 15. Needless to say, Díaz was far off from his brilliant 2018 campaign in which he collected a 1.96 ERA and 57 saves.
One massive key to the Mets’ potential success in 2020 will be their bullpen. As so many NL East teams have seen recently, bullpen woes can truly destroy momentum and ruin a season. With only 60 games to play, those bullpen problems can be even more detrimental to a team’s success.
Díaz is the main catalyst to watch out for in New York this season. If he can return to his old form, The Mets could prove a force to be reckoned with. If not, Mets fans may be thankful for a shortened season.