Meet Yusniel Díaz: Prospect shares favorites
‘El Jupe’ discusses off-field hobbies, vacation spots
The future is the theme of Orioles Spring Training this year, with nearly half of the club’s top prospects in camp with the team. That’s a lot of fresh faces, many of whom should arrive in Baltimore before long.
Each week, MLB.com will sit down for a personality-themed Q&A session with one of the club’s top prospects. We’ve already grilled Adley Rutschman and Ryan McKenna. In this next installment, let’s get to know Cuban outfielder Yusniel Díaz, the club’s No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline.
Name: Yusniel Díaz
Position: Outfield
Age: 23
MLB Pipeline ranking: No. 7
Signed: Nov. 21, 2015 -- LAD
MLB ETA: 2021
MLB.com: What is your favorite food?
Díaz: Pork, rice, beans and avocado.
MLB.com: What is your favorite color?
Díaz: White.
MLB.com: Who is your favorite non-baseball athlete?
Díaz: James Harden, LeBron James and Usain Bolt.
MLB.com: What is your favorite TV show?
Díaz: Anything with Kevin Hart.
MLB.com: What is your favorite movie?
Díaz: [The] Fast & The Furious. I’m looking forward to the next one.
MLB.com: What is your favorite off-field hobby?
Díaz: Spending time with my daughter. (Díaz’s first child, Valerie, was born in July.)
MLB.com: What is your go-to vacation spot?
Díaz: Jamaica. I really like visiting different places.
MLB.com: Who is your baseball role model?
Díaz: Andrew McCutchen and Mike Trout.
MLB.com: What is your favorite Minor League city so far?
Díaz: I am hopeful [Triple-A] Norfolk ... maybe I will really like it there.
MLB.com: What is the best meal you can cook?
Díaz: I can make good omelets and salads also.
MLB.com: What is your best baseball memory?
Díaz: I have some really good memories [from] Cuba before I started playing professionally. Also, when I signed and afterwards in the Minors.
MLB.com: Did you have a childhood nickname?
Díaz: ‘El Jupe.’ In Cuba, from what I heard, there is a fish with that name. Maybe I look like it; I am not sure.