Yandy Diaz: Tampa Bay Rays First Baseman - Family, Age, Stats, Bio & more

Yandy Díaz is a Cuban-born professional baseball third baseman and first baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Cleveland Indians.

Díaz was born in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba. He defected from Cuba in 2013 and signed with the Indians as an international free agent in 2014. He made his MLB debut in 2017.

Details about Yandy Díaz’s Background:

Name: Yandy Díaz
Position: First baseman, third baseman
Height: 6 feet, 2 inches
Weight: 215 pounds
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Age: 32 (born August 8, 1991)
Nationality: Cuban
Previous clubs: Cleveland Indians

Díaz is a contact hitter with a good eye at the plate. He is also a solid fielder at both third base and first base. In 2023, Díaz is hitting .328 with 12 home runs and 78 RBIs. He is one of the most consistent hitters in the Rays lineup.

Strengths & Weaknesses of Yandy Díaz:

Yandy Díaz is a Cuban-born professional baseball player who plays as a third baseman and first baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Cleveland Indians. Here are some points about his playing style:

He is a versatile and athletic player who can play multiple positions on the field. He has mainly played at third base and first base, but he has also appeared as a designated hitter and a left fielder.
He is a strong and disciplined hitter who has a high on-base percentage and a low strikeout rate. He has excellent plate vision and can draw walks and hit for power. He led the Rays in on-base percentage (.401), OPS (.824), and OPS+ (142) in the 2022 season. He also hit two home runs in the 2019 American League Wild Card Game against the Oakland Athletics.
He is a reliable and agile defender who can make quick and accurate throws. He has a good range and a strong arm. He has been involved in several double plays and one triple play in his career.
He is a valuable and consistent player who contributes to the team’s success. He has been an All-Star in 2023 and finished 20th in the MVP voting in 2022. He has helped the Rays reach the postseason in four consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2023.

Tactical Role of Yandy Díaz:

The tactical role of Yandy Díaz is to be a versatile and productive player who can play multiple positions on the field and contribute to the team’s offense and defense. He is a key part of the Tampa Bay Rays’ strategy of using platoons, shifts, and analytics to optimize their performance.

On offense, Díaz is a strong and disciplined hitter who can hit for power and get on base. He has a high on-base percentage and a low strikeout rate, which makes him an ideal leadoff hitter or a middle-of-the-order bat. He can also hit well against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers, which gives him an advantage over the opposing pitchers.

On defense, Díaz is a reliable and agile defender who can play at third base and first base, as well as other positions if needed. He has a good range and a strong arm, which allows him to make quick and accurate throws. He can also adapt to the Rays’ defensive shifts, which involve moving the infielders to different spots depending on the batter’s tendencies.

In summary, Díaz is a valuable and consistent player who plays a vital role in the Rays’ success. He is one of MLB’s best hitters and a versatile defender who can play multiple positions. He is an integral part of the Rays’ tactical approach to baseball.

Hobbies & Interests of Yandy Díaz:

He enjoys playing chess and dominoes, which are popular games in Cuba. He learned to play chess from his father, who was a chess champion in his hometown. He also likes to play dominoes with his teammates and friends.
He is passionate about music and dancing, especially salsa and reggaeton. He listens to music before every game to get pumped up and relax. He also likes to dance with his wife, who is a professional dancer.
He loves animals and has a pet dog named Aranita, which means “little spider” in Spanish. He adopted the dog from a shelter in Cleveland when he played for the Indians. He often posts pictures and videos of Aranita on his social media accounts.
He is interested in learning new languages and cultures. He speaks Spanish, English, and some Portuguese. He also wants to learn French and Japanese. He likes to travel and explore different places around the world.

Net worth of Yandy Díaz:

According to various online sources, Yandy Díaz’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million as of 2023. He has earned his wealth from his baseball career and his contracts with the Rays and the Indians. He signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Rays in 2023, which could be worth $36 million over four seasons. His annual salary is $8 million.

Personal Life of Yandy Díaz:

Yandy Díaz was born on August 8, 1991, in Sagua La Grande, Villa Clara, Cuba. He grew up playing baseball with his father, Jorge, who also defected from Cuba to play professional baseball in the United States. Jorge briefly played in the Texas Rangers organization and spent the rest of his career in independent leagues. Yandy was six years old when he last saw his father.

Díaz defected from Cuba in 2013, at the age of 21, along with his childhood friend Leandro Linares and another unnamed individual. He had previously attempted to defect twice, but was caught and arrested by the Cuban government. He signed with the Cleveland Indians for $300,000 in August 2013.

Díaz is married to his wife, Mayisleidis, who is also of Latin American heritage. They exchanged vows at a private ceremony in front of their loved ones. The exact date of their marriage is not known. They welcomed their first son, Yandy Jared Díaz, in July 2023. They currently reside in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Family of Yandy Díaz:

Yandy Díaz has a close relationship with his mother, Elsa Maria Fernandez Andrade, who still lives in Cuba. He also has a brother, Yordanis, who plays baseball in Cuba. He has not been able to see his family members since he left Cuba, but he keeps in touch with them through phone calls and video chats.

Height of Yandy Díaz:

Yandy Díaz stands at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall and weighs 215 pounds (98 kg). He bats right and throws right.

Contracts of Yandy Díaz:

Yandy Díaz has played for two MLB teams: the Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays. He made his MLB debut on April 3, 2017, for the Indians. He played for the Indians from 2017 to 2018, earning a total of $1.5 million in salary.

On December 13, 2018, the Indians traded Díaz to the Rays in a three-team trade that also involved the Seattle Mariners. He played for the Rays from 2019 to present, earning a total of $9.3 million in salary.

In January 2023, Díaz agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Rays that avoided arbitration. The contract could be worth $36 million over four seasons if the Rays exercise their club option for 2026.

Brands Associated:

Yandy Díaz has not been associated with any major brands or endorsements as of 2023. However, he has been seen wearing pink accessories on Mother’s Day to honor his wife and mother. He also wears a pink belt and shoes to honor his wife’s pregnancy.

Teams with Yandy Díaz played:

Yandy Díaz has played for two MLB teams: the Cleveland Indians and the Tampa Bay Rays. He has also played for several minor league teams affiliated with the Indians and the Rays, such as the Carolina Mudcats, the Akron RubberDucks, the Columbus Clippers, and the Durham Bulls.

He has also played for the Naranjas de Villa Clara in the Cuban National Series before defecting from Cuba.

He has been selected as an All-Star once in his MLB career, in 2023. He has also won several awards and honors in his minor league career, such as the International League Rookie of the Year Award in 2016 and the Eastern League All-Star Game MVP Award in 2015.

Awards & Achievements of Yandy Díaz:

He was named an All-Star in 2023, his first and only selection so far.
He hit two home runs in the 2019 American League Wild Card Game against the Oakland Athletics, becoming the first player in Rays history to do so in a postseason game.
He led the Rays in on-base percentage (.401), OPS (.824), and OPS+ (142) in the 2022 season, and finished second only to Harold Ramírez in batting average (.296). He also finished 20th in the MVP voting that year.
He won the International League Rookie of the Year Award in 2016, when he played for the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.
He was named the Eastern League All-Star Game MVP in 2015, when he played for the Akron RubberDucks, the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.

Year	Team	Games	At Bats	Runs	Hits	Doubles	Triples	Home Runs	RBIs	Batting Average	On-Base Percentage	Slugging Percentage
2017	CLE	49	156	25	41	8	1	0	13	.263	.352	.327
2018	CLE	39	109	15	34	5	2	1	15	.312	.375	.422
2019	TBR	79	307	53	82	20	1	14	38	.267	.340	.476
2020	TBR	34	114	16	35	3	0	2	11	.307	.428	.386
2021	TBR	134	465	62	119	20	1	13	64	.256	.353	.387
2022	TBR	137	473	71	140	33	0	9	57	.296	.401	.423
2023	TBR	129	501	89	160	32	0	20	73	.319	.398	.503

Awards & Achievements of Yandy Díaz

Díaz did not play college baseball, as he defected from Cuba at the age of 21 and signed with the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent.

Scouting Report of Yandy Díaz:

Tool	Grade	Description
Hit	60	Díaz has a good feel for the barrel and a disciplined approach, helping him make contact at a high rate. He has excellent plate vision and can draw walks and hit for power. He has a career .281 batting average and .375 on-base percentage in the majors.
Power	45	Díaz has raw pop, but his approach is not geared to creating the loft necessary to hit homers. He has a career .425 slugging percentage and 51 home runs in the majors. He hit a career-high 14 home runs in 2019, including two in the wild card game against the Athletics.
Run	40	Díaz is not a fast runner, but he has decent baserunning instincts. He has a career 8 stolen bases and 6 caught stealing in the majors. He can also score from first on a double or from second on a single.
Arm	55	Díaz has a strong and accurate arm, which allows him to make quick and precise throws from third base or first base. He can also play in the outfield if needed. He has a career .968 fielding percentage and 23 errors in the majors.
Field	55	Díaz is a reliable and agile defender who can play multiple positions on the field. He has mainly played at third base and first base, but he has also appeared as a designated hitter and a left fielder. He can also adapt to the Rays’ defensive shifts, which involve moving the infielders to different spots depending on the batter’s tendencies.

Scouting Report of Yandy Díaz

Yandy Díaz is a versatile and productive player who can play multiple positions on the field and contribute to the team’s offense and defense. He is one of MLB’s best hitters and a versatile defender who can play multiple positions. He is an integral part of the Rays’ tactical approach to baseball. He is an All-Star in 2023 and has helped the Rays reach the postseason in four consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2023. He has a bright future ahead of him as one of the Rays’ core players.

FAQs about Yandy Díaz:

How old is Yandy Díaz?

Yandy Díaz is 32 years old as of 2023. He was born on August 8, 1991, in Sagua La Grande, Villa Clara, Cuba .

How did Yandy Díaz defect from Cuba?

Yandy Díaz defected from Cuba in 2013, at the age of 21, along with his childhood friend Leandro Linares and another unnamed individual. He had previously attempted to defect twice, but was caught and arrested by the Cuban government. He signed with the Cleveland Indians for $300,000 in August 2013 .

What is Yandy Díaz’s contract with the Tampa Bay Rays?

Yandy Díaz agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in January 2023 that avoided arbitration. The contract could be worth $36 million over four seasons if the Rays exercise their club option for 2026. His annual salary is $8 million .

What are Yandy Díaz’s hobbies and interests?

Yandy Díaz enjoys playing chess and dominoes, which are popular games in Cuba. He learned to play chess from his father, who was a chess champion in his hometown. He also likes to play dominoes with his teammates and friends. He is passionate about music and dancing, especially salsa and reggaeton. He listens to music before every game to get pumped up and relax. He also likes to dance with his wife, who is a professional dancer. He loves animals and has a pet dog named Aranita, which means “little spider” in Spanish. He adopted the dog from a shelter in Cleveland when he played for the Indians. He often posts pictures and videos of Aranita on his social media accounts. He is interested in learning new languages and cultures. He speaks Spanish, English, and some Portuguese. He also wants to learn French and Japanese. He likes to travel and explore different places around the world .

What are Yandy Díaz’s career highlights?

Some of the career highlights of Yandy Díaz are:

He was named an All-Star in 2023, his first and only selection so far .
He hit two home runs in the 2019 American League Wild Card Game against the Oakland Athletics, becoming the first player in Rays history to do so in a postseason game .
He led the Rays in on-base percentage (.401), OPS (.824), and OPS+ (142) in the 2022 season, and finished second only to Harold Ramírez in batting average (.296) . He also finished 20th in the MVP voting that year.
He won the International League Rookie of the Year Award in 2016, when he played for the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians .
He was named the Eastern League All-Star Game MVP in 2015, when he played for the Akron RubberDucks, the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians .