After a torrid first month at the plate Yandy “La Arañita” Díaz, a nickname acquired by inheritance (his father was known as “La Araña” in the Serie Nacional) has been selected the best first baseman of the first 30 days of the season by MLB. Díaz who hit .319 with seven long balls, 16 RBIs and slashed .420/.585/1.005 during this time is off to his best start ever. Of his 30 hits 11 of them have been for extra bases.
Díaz only hit nine home runs last season is likely to better that mark this season. With the modifications he has made in the launch angle of his swing the slugger on pace to hit 30 jacks this year. This is mainly due to the strength that this modification has added to his swing.
The exit velocity on his hits are also up and he has hit balls over 110 MPH on several occasions, this has also led to an increase in his raw power. His contribution to the team’s cause is enriched when we look that his runs scored (23) and RBIs (16) have all come from the leadoff spot. In addition he has 55 total bases on the season.
His discipline in the batters box is the hallmark of his game, Díaz the first hitter to have who played in the Cuban National Series and end an MLB season with more walks than strikeouts (78 to 60). This year those figures are almost even, he has drawn 15 walks and struck out 16 times. The 31-year-old Cuban has a .280 average, 46 home runs, 214 RBIs, eight stolen bases and a .794 OPS during his seven seasons in the big leagues.