History of Edwin Díaz in Timeline

Edwin Díaz is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2012, he debuted in MLB with them in 2016. He has also played for the New York Mets. Díaz is known for his role as a closer and his high-velocity fastball. He has achieved recognition as one of the top relief pitchers in baseball.

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Full Timeline

March 22, 1994: Edwin Díaz Born

On March 22, 1994, Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy was born. He is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher.

Others born on this day/year

1997: Tied Franchise Record

Between June 28 and July 3, 2016, Díaz recorded ten consecutive outs via strikeout, tying a franchise record set in 1997.

1999: Broke Puerto Rican Record

In 2018, Díaz recorded his 44th save, breaking the record for most saves by a Puerto Rican player, previously set by Roberto Hernández who had 43 in 1999.

2001: Club Record Holder

In 2018, Díaz became the holder of the Seattle Mariners club record for saves before the All-Star break, finishing with 36 saves before the break, the previous club record was 29 saves by Kazuhiro Sasaki 2001.

2004: Recorded four saves in a single series

On August 12, 2018, with a win against the Houston Astros, Díaz became the first pitcher since 2004 to record four saves in a single series.

2008: Nickname Origin

In 2008 Díaz's nickname, "Sugar," was given to him by teammates in school who believed he resembled the fictional star pitcher Miguel "Sugar" Santos in the 2008 film, Sugar.

2008: Broke Record for Most Saves

In 2018, Díaz's 24 saves when entering a game with a one-run lead broke the record for most in a season, which had been 23, set by Francisco Rodríguez for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2008.

2012: Drafted by the Seattle Mariners

In 2012, Díaz was selected by the Seattle Mariners as the 98th overall pick in the third round of the MLB draft and made his professional debut that season with the AZL Mariners.

2013: Played for the Pulaski Mariners

In 2013, Díaz played for the Pulaski Mariners, achieving a 5-2 record with a 1.43 ERA and 79 strikeouts.

2014: Mariners Single-Season Record

On August 24, 2018, Díaz notched his 49th save of the season, setting a Mariners single-season record. The previous Mariners franchise single-season saves record was 48, by Fernando Rodney in 2014.

2014: Named Mariners' Fifth-Best Prospect

Prior to the 2014 season, Díaz was named the Mariners fifth-best prospect by Baseball America and spent the season with the Clinton LumberKings, co-selected as the organization's minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year along with Jordan Pries.

2015: Played for Bakersfield Blaze and Jackson Generals

In 2015, Díaz played for the Bakersfield Blaze and Jackson Generals, achieving a combined 7–10 record and 3.82 ERA, and was selected as minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season.

June 4, 2016: Called Up to the MLB for the First Time

On June 4, 2016, Díaz was called up to the MLB for the first time.

2016: Moved to Bullpen After Six Starts

In 2016, Díaz started with Jackson as a starting pitcher and was moved to the bullpen after six starts.

2016: Named Team's Closer, Rookie of the Year Voting

In 2016, after recording 18 saves, Díaz finished fifth in the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year voting and was named the team's closer.

2017: Appeared in 66 games

In 2017, Díaz appeared in 66 games, posting a 4–6 record to go along with a 3.27 earned run average and 89 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched, converting 34 of 39 save opportunities.

December 3, 2018: Traded to the New York Mets

On December 3, 2018, Díaz was traded to the New York Mets.

2018: First All-Star Selection and Reliever of the Year Award

In 2018, Díaz earned his first All-Star selection and won the AL Reliever of the Year Award after leading the MLB with 57 saves.

2018: Díaz's downturn

In the first half of the 2019 season, Díaz surrendered more than twice as many hits per nine innings as in the 2018 season and his ERA+ dropped from 210 in 2018 to 74 in the first half of the 2019 campaign.

2019: Díaz's downturn

2020: Pandemic-Shortened Season

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Díaz converted six of ten save opportunities and recorded a 1.75 ERA.

2021: Appeared in 63 Games

In 2021, Díaz appeared in 63 games, posting a 5–6 record, a 3.45 ERA, and 89 strikeouts in 62+2⁄3 innings pitched, converting 32 of 38 save opportunities.

April 29, 2022: Pitched in Combined No-Hitter

On April 29, 2022, Díaz pitched in relief in a combined no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies, earning the save.

May 17, 2022: Brothers Earn Saves on the Same Day

On May 17, 2022, Díaz's younger brother, Alexis Díaz, earned his first save, making them the third set of brothers to both earn a save on the same day.

2022: All-Star Selections, NL Reliever of the Year Award and All-MLB Team selection

In 2022, during his tenure with the Mets, Díaz earned two All-Star selections, won the National League (NL) Reliever of the Year Award twice, and was named to the All-MLB Team twice.

March 15, 2023: Suffered Knee Injury

On March 15, 2023, Díaz suffered a right knee injury during the World Baseball Classic celebration.

2023: Perfect Game vs. Israel

During the 2023 WBC, Díaz pitched in the seventh inning of an ongoing perfect game versus Israel, which ended by a 10–0 score on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the eighth inning that invoked the tournament's mercy rule.

April 15, 2024: Recorded 100th Save for the Mets

On April 15, 2024, Díaz recorded his 100th save for the Mets in a 6–3 home victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

May 2025: Dominant Month

During May 2025, Díaz had a dominant month for the Mets' where batters hit 0-for-30 against him, recording 5 saves and pitching 11 1⁄3 scoreless innings.

December 12, 2025: Signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers

On December 12, 2025, Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2025: All-Star Selections, NL Reliever of the Year Award and All-MLB Team selection

In 2025, during his tenure with the Mets, Díaz earned two All-Star selections, won the National League (NL) Reliever of the Year Award twice, and was named to the All-MLB Team twice.

2025: High Strikeout Rate

Through the 2025 season, Díaz has compiled an average of 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, which is one of the highest rates for a reliever in major league history.