North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Small Man with Big Game
5/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 24, 2006
By Tony Haynes
When Jonathan Diaz came to NC State and indicated he wanted to walk on to the baseball team three years ago, you wouldn't have blamed coach Elliott Avent if he first thought the diminutive Diaz was applying for a volunteer position as a bat boy. Not only was the Miami native small, he also looked like he was about 12. Now a junior, Diaz still doesn't look a day over 13. But for anyone who has watched him play the essential position of shortstop over the last three years, there's very little doubt that Diaz belongs on the college level.
Words like `dazzling' and `spectacular' have often been used to describe Diaz's stellar defensive abilities. Forget about the fact that he's clearly the best glove man at his position in the ACC, there are pro scouts who are saying that Diaz could play his position in the major leagues right now.
This season, Diaz has made some plays that have left fans, coaches and players in both dugouts scratching their heads. A highlight reel of his exploits would likely impress the likes of Ozzie Smith and Omar Vizquel.
To pick one highlight play that would rank No. 1 in Diaz's career would probably be an injustice, but most who saw the double-play that he started against Wake Forest at Doak Field back on April 8th would probably agree that the twin-killing was about as good as it gets.
Ranging far to his left, Diaz stretched out every inch of his 5-9 frame to glove a smash through the middle of the infield and behind the second base bag. Knowing he had no time to take the ball out of his glove with his throwing hand, Diaz flipped the ball out of his glove almost no sooner than it had landed there. Second baseman Ramon Corona took the feed and finished the 6-4-3 double-play.
It was a season after current major league relief pitcher Chad Orvella had vacated the NC State shortstop position when Diaz knocked on Avent's door. A native of Coral Gables, Diaz grew up just a long fly ball away from the Miami campus. The Hurricanes, however, really showed no interest in a player who received All-Dade County honorable mention credit after his senior season at Coral Gables High.
Passed over by Miami, Diaz was also snubbed by Florida State when he showed interest in walking on there. But it was during a thrilling NCAA Super Regional series between NC State and Miami in 2003 that Diaz first noticed the Wolfpack.
With Orvella moving on, the Pack needed a shortstop. But really, who would have thought that this youthful looking kid weighing barely 150 pounds would have what it takes to play the position at an ACC school, much less even make the roster?
This story does have a happy ending at many different levels. First, Diaz did win the job at NC State and immediately became an impact player at the most important position on the infield. In 209 total chances as a freshman, Diaz committed only four errors. And after batting just 167 that first year, he nearly doubled his batting average the next season, hitting .317 as a sophomore.
And while no one would describe Jonathan Diaz as a vengeful person, he has come back to torment the two ACC teams from his home state.
Last season, he hit the first of only two career homers at Miami's Mark Light Stadium, a place that was virtually his home away from home when he was a kid growing up in South Florida.
But perhaps no team in the league has felt Diaz's wrath more than Florida State. Last weekend in Tallahassee, he tallied eight hits in 11 at bats against the Seminoles. Assuming he doesn't face the `Noles again in this week's ACC Tournament, Diaz will finish his career with 18 hits in 32 at bats against FSU (.562).
This week, Diaz, who could do no better than honorable mention in high school, was named second team All-ACC.
Not bad for a little guy who looked more like a bat boy when he walked on at NC State three years ago.
