Matt Diaz
From BR Bullpen
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Matthew Edward Diaz
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[edit] Biographical Information
Matt Diaz is the starting left fielder for the Atlanta Braves.
In 1998 in college he was Freshman First Team All-America in the outfield, and in 1999 he was College World Series All-Tournament Team in the outfield.
Diaz was a 17th round draft pick in 1999 that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays let stay in the minors. Although drafted at the age of 21, he was still kicking around the minors when he was nearly 27 years old. Finally, the Devil Rays released him and the Kansas City Royals snapped him up and after a year, let him go.
Diaz was an accomplished hitter in AAA. In half a season in 2003 at Durham in the International League he posted numbers of .328/.382/.518. Again at Durham in 2004, he hit .332/.377/.571. At that point, Tampa Bay released him. In a partial season at Omaha in the PCL in 2005, he did .371/.408/.649. Then Kansas City sold him to the Atlanta Braves.
Diaz had hits in 10 consecutive at-bats in August 2006, tying the National League record.
