American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report name Gary SouthShore RailCats right-hander Andres Diaz as American Association Pitcher of the Week for Week 4 of the 2024 season.

RailCats RHP Andres Diaz Named Pitcher of the Week

On Monday, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report named Gary SouthShore RailCats right-hander Andres Diaz as the Pitcher of the Week for Week 4 of the 2024 season. Diaz had just one start during the week, but he made it a good one, allowing a single hit and no runs in seven innings against the Kansas City Monarchs.

The start came on May 30 in Gary. The right-hander retired the first six batters he faced, finally seeing the streak end when he issued a leadoff walk in the third. That inning Kansas City recorded their only hit of the ballgame, as a one-out single put two on with runners at the corners. The Monarchs had the opportunity to get on the board, but Diaz struck out the next two batters to end the threat. That started a run of 14 straight batters retired before his day was over.

The outing was spectacular. Diaz allowed a single hit and a walk while striking out seven in seven innings. Of his 90 pitches, 59 went for strikes.

Andres Diaz was signed as an undrafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2018 at the age of 16. He spent five years with the organization, spending most of that time at rookie ball before finally reaching A-Columbia (Carolina League) in 2023. In his five seasons in the minors, Diaz was 12-9 with a 3.38 ERA in 61 games. He proved to have great command, walking just 26 batters in 157.0 innings pitched, while striking out 149.

Diaz joined the RailCats this season, beginning the year working out of the bullpen, but has started in each of his last two outings. He is 1-0 with a 2.74 ERA, allowing 16 hits and six walks while striking out 20 in 19.2 innings.

2024 American Association Pitchers of the Week

Week 1 – Ryan Zimmerman, Sioux Falls Canaries
Week 2 – Ty Culbreth, Sioux Falls Canaries
Week 3 – Davis Feldman, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

By Robert Pannier