Díaz earns first ASG nod for Rockies catcher

DENVER -- Rockies catcher Elias Díaz arrived at Spring Training vowing to keep each day -- good or bad -- from influencing the next. He certainly wasn’t carrying the history of the franchise with him into each game.

Díaz’s simple approach helped him achieve something no Rockies catcher had done in 30 previous seasons the team had existed -- an invitation to represent the club in the All-Star Game. Díaz was announced Sunday as an MLB choice to the National League squad for the July 11 Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

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Rockies manager Bud Black informed Díaz and the club during an emotional meeting before Sunday’s 14-9 loss to the Tigers at Coors Field. The presence of countryman Miguel Cabrera added color to the in-stadium announcement when some fans unfurled Venezuela’s yellow, blue and red flag.

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“It’s something very special. The way that it happened, I wasn’t anticipating it at all,” said Díaz, who usually does interviews in English but spoke in Spanish, with bullpen catcher Aaron Muñoz interpreting, as a nod to family and friends who have supported him throughout his life.

“I'm grateful for the way the season has gone, grateful for the team, grateful for my family’s support and truly honored,” Díaz added.

Through Sunday, Díaz is slashing .284/.337/.789 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs, with overall performance numbers that are among the top handful of players at his position in the Majors.

“The guys have come to appreciate Elias in a number of ways -- the care factor for the Rockies, the care factor for his pitchers as teammates,” Black said. “It’s great because it’s understated. He’s pretty quiet, but you can tell there’s a big heart in there.”

The honor is a reward for a bounce-back performance in 2023.

Non-tendered after appearing in five seasons with the Pirates (2015-19), Díaz signed with the Rockies and became the primary catcher during the final days of the 2020 season. He started slowly in ’21, with a .123 average through June 1. But he hit .284 the rest of the way, with 17 of his 18 total homers. Defensively, his 42.1 percent caught-stealing rate was second in the Majors (among catchers with at least 60 starts) to Royals star Salvador Perez’s 43.9 percent.

Díaz and the Rockies avoided arbitration after the season with a three-year, $14.5 million agreement. While the deal was club-friendly for a starting catcher, an appreciative Díaz admittedly pressed to justify the contract. There was improvement in the final months, but Díaz’s .228/.281/.368 slash line was not what he or the club expected.

During the offseason at home in Venezuela, Díaz worked out with friends who had played in the Minors and knew his swing best. He followed that up with real attention to his psychological side.

Díaz started the season with an honor -- a selection to Team Colombia (his father is from Colombia) for the World Baseball Classic. This season, Díaz overcame his penchant for slow starts by batting .343 through his first 31 appearances.

“I've been fortunate that I've been at this level for quite a bit now, and the game teaches you everything,” Díaz said. “I've been able to adjust when necessary. Being up here taught me to be a little bit more patient and take it day by day. If something didn't happen that day, I know the next day I can be a little bit more positive and bring that energy.”

The Rockies have regularly placed him in the cleanup spot and at times make him the designated hitter to avoid some of catching’s wear and tear.