Padres call up Elias Díaz as rosters expand

ST. PETERSBURG -- Catcher Elias Díaz arrived at the Padres’ visitors clubhouse at Tropicana Field on Sunday around 11 a.m. ET, his Colorado Rockies duffle bag still in tow.

The 33-year-old Díaz batted .270 with five home runs and a .693 OPS in 84 games with the Rockies this season before he was placed on waivers and ultimately released on Aug. 16.

He landed with the Padres on a Minor League deal last week and, after four games at Triple-A El Paso, he was called up by the big league club Sunday as rosters expanded to 28 players for September.

“I’m just happy for this opportunity to get back into the Major Leagues,” Díaz said via team interpreter Pedro Gutierrez. “Just thank God for this chance to get to join this ballclub.”

The 10-year veteran brings plenty of experience and wisdom that he can impart upon San Diego’s pitching staff. But this new chapter in his baseball journey could result in a brand-new experience for Díaz: playoff baseball.

Between his five seasons each with the Pirates and Rockies, Díaz has never played in the postseason. Now, after moving from a last-place club to one in possession of the second National League Wild Card, he is ready to do what he can to get himself and the Padres into October.

Because he signed prior to Sept. 1, Díaz would be eligible for the postseason roster.

"I have zero postseason experience, so just the fact that I've been able to get to this ballclub right now and help this team win -- yeah, we want to reach the playoffs,” he said. “That’s our goal.”

Díaz should see playing time behind Kyle Higashioka, who has cemented himself as the Padres’ starting catcher, although he was out of the lineup on Saturday and Sunday due to flu-like symptoms. Backup backstop Luis Campusano entered Sunday slashing .233/.283/.370 across 290 plate appearances this season and has received poor marks for his defense. That’s highlighted by a -11 fielding run value, which is tied for the third-worst among fielders who have played at least 500 innings this season.

Díaz owns a +5 fielding run value, thanks mostly to his receiving skills behind the plate. He put a lot of work into that aspect of the game during the offseason and has accrued +3 catcher framing runs. Conversely, Campusano is at -7.

“Being able to help all our pitchers, just going after every single pitch, it’s something that helps the team win,” Díaz said.

One of the first people he saw when he walked into the clubhouse was left-handed starter and fellow Venezuelan Martín Pérez. The two gave each other a huge hug.

“He's positive. He's a funny guy,” Pérez said of his countryman. “I think the way that he takes care of his business behind home plate is good. He's been around for many years, and he knows how to call games. In big situations, I think he’s going to help us a lot, especially with this group we have here.”

Díaz is only one year removed from hitting 14 home runs with a .725 OPS for the Rockies and being selected to his first All-Star Game. He went on to win MVP honors at the 2023 Midsummer Classic for hitting a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning that propelled the National League to a 3-2 victory.

The bulk of Díaz's playing time in the Majors came with Colorado, and he registered a .253/.305/.403 slash line and an 85 OPS+ across 462 games with the NL West rival from 2020-24. He went 3-for-12 with one home run with El Paso this week.

“A really plus defender with a shutdown kind of arm, and he has been really productive with the bat and grown as a hitter,” manager Mike Shildt said of Díaz. “He brings experience and depth. … He’ll get his opportunities.”