Edwin Díaz

Edwin Díaz Bio

Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets. Selected by the Mariners in the third round of the 2012 MLB draft, Díaz made his major league debut in 2016 and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant relief pitchers of his generation.

Díaz has earned three All-Star selections and three Reliever of the Year awards across both the American League and National League. He is widely recognized for his high strikeout rate, his signature walk-up song, and his sidearm delivery that has produced more than 849 career strikeouts and 257 saves.

Early Life and Background

Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy was born on March 22, 1994, in Naguabo, Puerto Rico, and grew up in the Daguao barrio of the municipality. He began playing baseball around the age of seven, primarily as a center fielder, and spent much of his youth playing as an outfielder alongside future major leaguers such as Carlos Correa and José Berríos.

At the insistence of his father, Díaz reluctantly tried pitching as a teenager and gradually transitioned to the mound. That decision would set the course for his professional future. He attended Caguas Military Academy in Caguas, Puerto Rico, where he continued to develop as a pitcher before being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 2012 MLB draft.

Path to Professional Baseball

Díaz made his professional debut in 2012 with the AZL Mariners, appearing in nine games and recording 20 strikeouts over 19 innings. In 2013, he pitched for the Pulaski Mariners, going 5–2 with a 1.43 ERA and 79 strikeouts across 13 starts, and was named the organization’s minor league starting pitcher of the year along with Jordan Pries in 2014.

He continued his climb through the Seattle system with the Bakersfield Blaze and Jackson Generals, earning minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year honors for a second consecutive season in 2015. After beginning 2016 in the rotation at Jackson, Díaz was moved to the bullpen and transitioned into a relief role that would soon take him to the major leagues.

Edwin Díaz Career

Early Career (2016–2017)

Edwin Díaz was called up to the major leagues on June 4, 2016, and made his MLB debut two days later against the Cleveland Indians, striking out Tyler Naquin for his first career strikeout. Between late June and early July, he recorded 11 consecutive outs via strikeout, surpassing Hall of Famer Randy Johnson’s Mariners franchise record of 10. On August 1, 2016, Díaz replaced Steve Cishek as Seattle’s closer and notched his first save the following day against the Boston Red Sox.

He finished his rookie campaign with a 6–3 record, 1.63 ERA, 98 strikeouts, and 28 saves, placing fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. In 2017, Díaz appeared in 66 games, converting 34 of 39 save opportunities with a 3.27 ERA and 89 strikeouts, solidifying his role as the Mariners’ late-inning anchor.

Seattle Mariners Breakthrough (2018)

Díaz’s 2018 season established him as one of the premier closers in baseball. He was named to his first All-Star Game, became the winning pitcher despite a blown save in the All-Star Game, and received the American League Reliever of the Month Award in April, June, and July. On August 10, he recorded his 44th save, breaking Roberto Hernández’s record for most saves by a Puerto Rican pitcher.

He set the Mariners single-season saves record with his 49th save on August 24 and became the youngest pitcher to reach 50 saves in a season the following day. Díaz finished 2018 with 57 saves, leading the major leagues, along with a 1.96 ERA, 124 strikeouts, and a 0.79 WHIP, earning the American League Reliever of the Year Award.

New York Mets Era (2019–2025)

On December 3, 2018, the Mariners traded Díaz, Robinson Canó, and $20 million to the New York Mets. After a difficult 2019 season, he rebounded in 2020 with a 1.75 ERA in the pandemic-shortened campaign. In 2021, Díaz appeared in 63 games, converting 32 of 38 save opportunities. On April 29, 2022, he closed out a combined no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies to earn the save, earned his second All-Star selection that July, and finished the year with a career-best 1.31 ERA and 32 saves.

On November 9, 2022, Díaz signed a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets, the richest deal ever for a relief pitcher. He suffered a torn patellar tendon during the 2023 World Baseball Classic celebration and missed the entire 2023 MLB season. Returning in 2024, he recorded his 100th Mets save, helped clinch a playoff berth on September 30, and earned his first postseason win before recording his first postseason save in the National League Division Series. In 2025, Díaz was named an All-Star for the third time, recorded his 250th career save on September 1, and was named National League Reliever of the Year before opting out of his contract to become a free agent.

Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2026–Present)

On December 12, 2025, Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He earned his first save as a Dodger on March 27, 2026, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His early tenure was interrupted by injury, as a 10.50 ERA over his first seven appearances led to a stint on the injured list beginning April 20 due to loose bodies in his right elbow.

Driving Style and Strengths

Díaz operates from a sidearm delivery and throws three pitches, with a hard four-seam fastball averaging 97.7 mph as his primary offering at roughly 60 percent usage, complemented by a slider at about 89.4 mph and an occasional changeup. He has compiled an average of 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, one of the highest rates for a reliever in major league history.

Notable Events and Milestones

Díaz holds the Mariners franchise single-season saves record with 57 in 2018 and surpassed Roberto Hernández’s Puerto Rican saves record the same year. He closed out a combined no-hitter in 2022, recorded his 250th career save in 2025, and has earned Reliever of the Month honors a record 10 times across both leagues.

Edwin Díaz Career Wins

Across his time with the Mariners and Mets, Díaz has compiled 257 career saves through the 2025 season, ranking among the most prolific closers of his era. He has also added postseason victories, including a memorable run in the 2024 National League playoffs.

MLB Highlights

Díaz’s first MLB save came on August 2, 2016, against the Boston Red Sox, when he struck out the side in a 5–4 Mariners victory. His most recent save came during his Dodgers debut in 2026, with his signature highlights including the 2018 record-setting 57-save campaign, the 2022 combined no-hitter, and the 250th career save in 2025. He also won the 2024 National League Wild Card Series clincher and recorded a save in the Division Series that same postseason.

International Highlights

Díaz represented Puerto Rico in the 2017, 2023, and 2026 World Baseball Classic. He earned a silver medal in 2017 with two saves, including one against the Dominican Republic and another against the United States, and posted a perfect 0.00 ERA across the 2023 and 2026 tournaments.

Edwin Díaz Family

Family Background and Personal Life

Díaz spends his offseasons in his native Daguao barrio in the Naguabo Municipality of Puerto Rico, where most of his family still lives. He has organized baseball clinics for local children through the Edwin Díaz Baseball Academy, an effort that has drawn visits from fellow major leaguers Robinson Canó and Martín Maldonado. His younger brother, Alexis Díaz, is a professional relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, and on May 17, 2022, the brothers became the third pair in MLB history to both record a save on the same day.

Díaz earned the nickname “Sugar” from school teammates who felt he resembled the fictional star pitcher Miguel “Sugar” Santos from the 2008 film Sugar. He is also widely recognized for his walk-up song, “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet, which has become a stadium staple during his appearances.

2025 Season Performance

Díaz opened the 2025 season in dominant form, posting a stretch in May in which opposing batters went hitless across 30 consecutive at-bats. He recorded 5 saves and pitched 11⅓ scoreless innings during the month, earning National League Reliever of the Month honors. On June 2, 2025, he was charged with his first blown save of the year against the Los Angeles Dodgers but earned the win as the Mets prevailed 4–3 in extra innings.

He was named to the National League All-Star team for the third time in his career, entering the break with a 1.80 ERA, 18 saves, and 53 strikeouts. After the All-Star break, Díaz was again named NL Reliever of the Month in July, giving him a record 10 career Reliever of the Month awards. He recorded his 250th career save on September 1, finished the year with a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 28 saves, and was named National League Reliever of the Year for the second time before opting out of his contract to enter free agency.