[IMPORTANT: Make this 4 times longer with much more detail]
Baseball Rays exercise 2026 option for infielder Yandy Díaz, add vesting option for 2027 by Latino Sports March 16, 2025 Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports The Tampa Bay Rays have exercised a 2026 club option for infielder Yandy Díaz and added a vesting option for 2027, pending 2026 performance thresholds. In 2024, Díaz, 33, hit .281/.341/.414 (158-for-563) with 31 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, 65 RBI and 50 walks over a career-high 145 games, leading the Rays in batting average and on-base percentage (min. 350 PA). He recorded a franchise-record 20-game hitting streak from June 7-28, batting .360 (32-for-89) during the run. He also tallied an RBI in a club-record-tying eight straight games from June 19-26, matching streaks by Evan Longoria (2009), Ben Zobrist (2009), Carlos Peña (2008) and Rocco Baldelli (2004). Díaz has recorded 30 doubles in each of the last three seasons since 2022, making him one of four AL hitters to accomplish the feat along with Boston’s Rafael Devers, Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cleveland’s José Ramírez. Rays 1B Yandy Díaz representing Latino Sports after being named a finalist for the 2023 American League LatinoMVP award- Image Credit: Tampa Bay Rays In 2023, Díaz became the first player in Rays history to win an AL batting title, posting a franchise-record .330 (173-for-525) average. He became the third Cuban-born player in major league history to win an AL/NL batting crown, joining Houston’s Yuli Gurriel (2021) and Hall of Famer Tony Oliva, who claimed three with Minnesota (1971, 1964-65). Díaz also earned his first career All-Star selection, starting for the AL at first base, and became the fourth Rays hitter to earn a Silver Slugger Award along with Carl Crawford (2010), Longoria (2009) and Peña (2007). Over 754 career games between Tampa Bay and Cleveland, Díaz has hit .288/.373/.433 with 155 doubles, six triples, 75 home runs, 341 RBI and 352 walks. He holds the Rays franchise record in leadoff home runs (16) and ranks among all-time club leaders in walks (5th, 320), doubles (6th, 142), hits (7th, 707), games played (8th, 666), runs scored (8th, 452), extra-base hits (9th, 219) and RBI (10th, 313). Among players with at least 1,500 plate appearances with the Rays, his .374 on-base percentage ranks second behind Fred McGriff (.380), while his .289 average is fourth behind Crawford (.296), McGriff (.291) and James Loney (.291). Díaz was originally acquired from Cleveland along with right-handed pitcher Cole Sulser in a three-team trade with Seattle on December 13, 2018. The Rays sent infielder Jake Bauers to Cleveland and cash considerations to the Mariners. Press Release Courtesy of MLB Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content Instagram: @latinosportsoficial Facebook: Latino Sports Twitter: @latinosports Related Topics Cuba Major League Baseball MLB Rays Tampa Bay Rays Yandy Diaz Click to comment Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website Advertisement Facebook Latest Article Baseball / 1 month ago 35TH ANNUAL LATINO MVP AWARDS – 2024 OFFICIAL BALLOT ANNOUNCED BRONX, NY (February 10th, 2025) — It has been thirty five (35) years since… By Press Release Baseball / 3 hours ago Rays exercise 2026 option for infielder Yandy Díaz, add vesting option for 2027 The Tampa Bay Rays have exercised a 2026 club option for infielder Yandy Díaz… By Latino Sports Baseball / 13 hours ago Unusual Case in the History of Spring Training – Caso Insólito en la Historia del Spring Training Coral Gables, Florida (VIP-WIRE) – During this time of Major League Baseball training, it’s… By Juan Vené Basketball / 15 hours ago Big East Player of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player St. John’s RJ Luis Jr.: ‘This has been the best week of my entire life’ NEW YORK, NY — Throughout the course of “Champ Week,” the 2024-2025 Big East… By Robert Rizzo MLS / 16 hours ago The NYFC Duo And Home Win BRONX, NY — Alonso Martínez and Julián Fernández figured in the scoring Saturday night… By Rich Mancuso More in Baseball Unusual Case in the History of Spring Training – Caso Insólito en la Historia del Spring Training Coral Gables, Florida (VIP-WIRE) – During this time of Major League Baseball training, it’s… Yankees Spring Training: Oswaldo Cabrera Prepared For Third Base Challenge TAMPA, FL — Oswaldo Cabrera found himself thrusted into the New York Yankees’ third… Interview with NL LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year Finalist Freddy Peralta: ‘Winning this award would be a moment of pride’ PHOENIX, AZ — I met Freddy Peralta in the Milwaukee Brewers’ locker room during… “The Magician” is back: A healthy Javier Báez finally wants to make a big contribution to the Tigers in 2025 This article first appeared in Puerto Rico’s daily El Nuevo Dia. I has been… Unusual Case in the History of Spring Training – Caso Insólito en la Historia del Spring Training
