The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking for pieces that could be part of their long term core. That quest has led to yet another formerly well regarded prospect.
According to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald, the Pirates have claimed Lewin Diaz off of waivers, the second first baseman that the team has acquired thus far in the offseason.
Pittsburgh Pirates hoping to unlock Lewin Diaz
Diaz had been a solid prospect from the time he received a $1.4 million bonus during the 2013-14 international signing period. He had been lauded for his power potential and excellent defense at first, making him the type of player that would be coveted around the league. That was the case when he was traded to the Marlins as part of the Sergio Romo trade in 2019.
He has not lived up to those expectations in the majors. To this point, Diaz has produced a .181/.227/.340 batting line in his 343 major league plate appearances over parts of three seasons, hitting 13 homers and ten doubles. His plate discipline has hindered his ability to make an impact at the plate as he has 19 walks and 99 strikeouts.
He has had far more success in the minors. Diaz has posted a more respectable .250/325/.504 batting line in his 680 plate appearances, hitting 39 homers and 34 doubles. The power potential is still there; it is just a matter of having that translate at the major league level.
The Pirates do have plenty of time to give Diaz a chance. They are looking for possible building blocks, and if he can finally tap into his potential, he could be a part of their future. If nothing else, he is a relatively low cost lottery ticket that could pay off down the line.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are giving Lewin Diaz a chance. Maybe they can be the team to unlock the potential of the formerly well regarded prospect.