Day-by-day approach doing wonders for Díaz

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER -- Rockies catcher Elias Díaz’s T-shirt and shorts on Sunday morning were matching unique shades of pink -- a little deeper than salmon, not as bright as hot.

If you’d looked at him through your eye for fashion, you’d at least consider such an outfit for yourself. Turns out he’s already a trend-setter.

“If I wear this, maybe I’ll hit .320, too,” said smiling outfielder Yonathan Daza, who was Díaz’s twinsie.

But before he was a sartorial leader, Díaz learned about following. Listen to good advice, and you have a shot.

Díaz has been the Rockies’ best offensive player during their nightmarish 9-20 start. His .321 batting average and .844 OPS exceed expectations, and his six doubles and two home runs are in line with the occasional power Díaz has flashed since joining the Rockies in 2020.

The early portion of 2023 is a step forward from Díaz’s slow starts during the last two years. A key reason for the turnaround is heeding valuable offseason advice.

After realizing that pressuring himself to justify his contract led to last year’s first-half struggles, Díaz sought a better mindset. During the offseason and since the season has begun, Díaz has regularly talked to a friend from his native country, Venezuela. Díaz declined to name the friend but described him as not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but one who can talk to him “about life, about everything.”

The key is not biting off more than what's on his plate at a given moment.

“I don’t worry about anything,” Díaz said. “I just go day by day. I take care of today. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, so what matters is today.

“The past was crazy. I’d worry about everything. I’m different right now. If you stay healthy in this job, anything can happen. Stay healthy, stay positive. You control your attitude, your emotions, your work ethic. Don’t worry about anything. Just go play.”

While the Rockies have depth issues and the roster looks to be transitioning to a future that’s unseen, one problem that players note -- usually about themselves -- is carrying various burdens to the diamond. Every aspect of the team is guilty of breakdowns that can undo games when another part of the club is doing well. It all leads to losses, which strains everyone.

The suddenly happy-go-lucky Díaz, 32, could be an example, if teammates want to look. Díaz doesn’t necessarily have to be an orator. On the field, all eyes are on him when he’s behind the plate as he attempts to lead by example.

And his defense is worth watching. Díaz has thrown out six of the eight runners that have attempted to steal, and he is tied with Arizona’s Gabriel Moreno and Boston's Connor Wong for the MLB lead in the new Statcast category, Caught Stealing Above Average.

“I’m around the dugout, the clubhouse and I play around a lot with everybody, but I don’t talk too much,” Díaz said.

His offensive approach also tells a helpful story for the Rockies.

“He’s getting pitches to hit, and he’s hitting them,” manager Bud Black said. “The selectivity has been there. Not quite as much chase. When he’s going bad, there’s a chase in there.

“He’s an aggressive hitter and he’s got to be ready to hit, but he’s got to be ready to check off and stop his swing on balls out of the zone. For the most part, he’s doing that.”