Matt Diaz

Born March 3, 1978 Matt Diaz was born in Portland, Oregon, but he ironically would start making a name for himself in the great state Florida. Diaz made his mark at Florida State University, where his play for the baseball team earned him Freshman of the Year honors from the Sporting News in 1998. Diaz who was also named an All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association and the National Baseball College Writers' Association in 1999. He also led his team to two College World Series. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=429841 The same year, Diaz was chosen by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the draft, and he made his debut with the team in 2003. Diaz struggled at the plate while playing for the Rays. He only batted .167 in 30 at bats. Between 2003 and 2004, Diaz only appeared in 14 games with the Rays before being released. Diaz then signed with the Kansas City Royals, with whom he played in 34 games in 2005, hitting a respectable .281 over the span. After the season, however, the Royals traded Diaz to the Atlanta Braves, and in 2006, the young player took his game to another level. Once Diaz was traded to the Braves, he seem to hit his stride as a back up player. Diaz hit .327 in 297 at bats and played in more major league games than he had in his previous three years combined. Ironically like most of his career, Diaz would have one of his biggest moments in his adopted home of Florida. On August 29, 2007, Diaz would have his first multiple homer game against the Florida Marlins. Diaz would have three homers in that series and batted an astonishing .538. For the season, Diaz would bat .338 with 12 homeruns and 45 RBI’s. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=429841 Diaz continues to play an important part of the Braves outfield and has one of the best bats in the Braves line up. In 2010, Diaz will have to sit out for at least three weeks because of an infective thumb. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=429841

Matt Diaz has accomplished a lot in his short Major League career but he was a big team player in college before he even came to the majors. Here are a list of things you may not have known about Matt Diaz

• For his career at FSU, Diaz batted .384 with 43 homeruns

• He and his FSU squad played their rival the Miami Hurricanes in the 1999 College World Series

• He was named the NCAA Regional MVP

• Diaz and his family make their offseason home in Florida

• In 2009 for the Braves, he set career highs in at-bats (371), runs (56), home runs (13), RBI (58), SH (5), HBP (13), BB (35), K (90), SB (12) and tied his career high in triples (4).

• He also had his first career three-double game last August against the Phillies

• Diaz’s brother Jonny is a contemporary Christian singer writer/artist

• Diaz, who is also a Born Again Christian ,has a wife and two children