Isan Diaz

Diaz was one of the first players to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, but he eventually came back to play in seven games in September. Diaz has just over 200 plate appearances at the big-league level, and has struck out in 29.6% of those with a .174/.251/.294 line to show for it. Diaz has shown both stolen-base ability and power at the minor-league level around a patient approach at the plate, but also with a lot of strikeouts around the walks and extra-base hits. The steals appear to be more strategy than speed as scouts and Statcast both paint him as a below-average runner. Perhaps at his peak, Diaz could be another Derek Dietrich as a strong-side platoon power infielder. However, 2021 is very unlikely to be the season Diaz reaches that type of ceiling. There is much growth needed here.

One of Miami's most prominent callups in 2019, Diaz moved to the majors in August after posting a .973 OPS in 102 games at Triple-A. While Miami stuck with him as its primary second baseman, Diaz's initial returns weren't promising. A 29.4 K% was the biggest hindrance to his success, with off-speed (45.3 Whiff%) and breaking pitches (40.6 Whiff%) in particular vexing the 23-year-old. Improvement in that area will be essential for Diaz to keep his average above the Mendoza Line moving forward, as his Statcast-measured hard-hit (32.2%) and barrel rates (4.5%) weren't special enough to override the swing and miss in his game. Since Diaz likely won't chip in more than a few steals in peak years either, his fantasy profile is one-dimensional at this stage. Furthermore, Diaz's playing time became less secure over the winter, when the Marlins acquired another established option at the keystone in Jonathan Villar.

Diaz was traded to the Marlins before the 2018 season in the deal that sent Christian Yelich to the Brewers. He opened the season with Double-A Jacksonville, hitting .245/.365/.418 with 10 homers and 10 stolen bases across 83 games with the Jumbo Shrimp before receiving a promotion to Triple-A New Orleans in mid-July. The 22-year-old struggled in his first taste of Triple-A, slashing just .204/.281/.358 in 36 games. Strikeouts remain an issue for Diaz, as he's fanned in at least 25% of his plate appearances in three straight seasons, but he has a knack for getting on base (.353 career OBP) and offers a modest power/speed combo for a middle infielder. He should open the season back with the Baby Cakes, though he could break camp with the Marlins if Starlin Castro is traded before Opening Day. Either way, a promotion to the majors at some point in 2019 seems likely for the youngster.

Diaz jumped onto top-100 prospect lists following a 2016 campaign in which he posted an .827 OPS as a 20-year-old shortstop and was named the Brewers' minor-league player of the year, but he took a step back in the standard fantasy categories last season in his first go-around with High-A Carolina. A closer look at his stats shows his BB:K ratio and contact rate held pretty firm, which explains the similarity in OBP. However, his OPS took a hit thanks to a sizable dropoff in BABIP and ISO. Given his decline and with his 2017 campaign cut short by a hand injury, Diaz could open 2018 back at the High-A level, but it will be for a new organization after he was traded to the Marlins in the deal that sent Christian Yelich to Milwaukee. However, Diaz has never never repeated a level, so he could earn an assignment to the Double-A ranks relatively early.

Diaz is the perfect example of the kind of player Brewers GM David Stearns has been targeting in his rebuilding efforts. He is far from the perfect prospect -- it's unclear if he'll be able to stick at shortstop, he's only 5-foot-10 and his hit tool is exceptionally raw. But the numbers he put up in short-season ball in 2015 were impeccable - .360/.436/.640 with 13 home runs in just 68 games as a 19-year-old. Diaz was elevated to full-season ball in the Midwest League with the Brewers and continued to rake, as he posted a .264/.358/.469 line in a much more pitcher-friendly league in 2016. His 25.3 percent strikeout rate is concerning, but as a prospect who already has shown solid power and discipline and can play a premium defensive position, there's a lot to dream on with Diaz.

At just 19 years old, Diaz tore up the rookie-level Pioneer League in 2015. He played in 68 games and posted a 1.076 OPS over 312 plate appearances. Diaz also blasted 13 home runs and swiped 12 bases, showing a good combination of power and speed. The youngster improved his strikeout rate as well, from 26.4% in 2014 to 20.8% last year. Continued improvements in this area will only bolster his offensive potential. In the field, Diaz started 63 of his 68 games last year at shortstop, posting a .945 fielding percentage. His other five starts came at second base. If Diaz continues to hit enough to allow his power and speed to play, he will shoot up prospect lists. An offseason trade to Milwaukee put him on the map, so he should no longer be under the radar in dynasty leagues.