Jayden
Diaz

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 188-pounds. Strong, compact frame.
Hits: LHH. Quiet, relaxed setup, minimal wasted movement. Strong hands, easy effort, heavy barrel, natural uphill stroke and easy jump off the barrel. Power potential with gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 90.2 MPH. 381' max distance.
Arm: RH. C-69 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, consistently on the bag.
Defense: 2.07-2.13 pop times. Soft hands, gets underneath the pitch at the bottom of the zone. Easy effort, athletic and directional out of the crouch.
Run: 7.04 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 77.38 Edge Score

One of the top prospects on the Illinois squad was Wabash Valley commit C Jayden Diaz (Alton, 2023). The 5-foot-9, 188-pound left-handed hitter with strength throughout his frame took arguably the most polished and dynamic round of BP in attendance. Diaz averaged 90.2 mph off the bat with a max of 97.1 and led the event with the furthest batted ball of 380’. Diaz is calm and relaxed in the box with minimal wasted movement, creating advanced jump off the barrel with minimal effort. Diaz took a ball off the scoreboard in right-center field during BP and then carried it over to game play finishing 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and number of quality swings throughout. Defensively, he has natural catcher actions, is clean and easy out of the crouch and his arm played true and on the bag with a low pop time of 2.07.

5-foot-9, 180-pound, left-handed hitting catcher. Thick/strong lower half. Balanced and quiet in the box, stays connected, uses the whole field, feel for the strike zone, natural lift and stays within himself. Tough weekend in terms of results but has shown well this summer. Above-average receiver for his age. Quiet, calm presentation of the pitch, soft hands, adept blocker. Athletic actions and presence behind the plate. Follow 2023 left-handed hitting catcher.