Edwin Díaz Bio
Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy, born on March 22, 1994, is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A hard-throwing reliever known for a sidearm delivery and a strikeout-heavy approach, Díaz has built his reputation as one of the most dominant closers of his era. He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets, and he continues to be recognized as one of the premier relief pitchers in the league.
Over the course of his career, Díaz has earned three All-Star selections, two All-MLB Team honors, and multiple Reliever of the Year awards in both the American League and National League. He signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2025, beginning a new chapter in his career.
Early Life and Background
Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy grew up in the Daguao barrio of Naguabo, Puerto Rico, where most of his family still lives. He began playing baseball around the age of seven, initially as a center fielder rather than a pitcher. During his youth, he played alongside future major leaguers such as Carlos Correa and José Berríos, sharpening his skills in Puerto Rico’s competitive baseball culture.
At the insistence of his father, Díaz reluctantly tried pitching as a teenager, a move that would eventually define his professional career. The shift from position player to pitcher marked the beginning of his transformation into one of the most powerful arms in baseball. His Puerto Rican roots and family support have remained central to his identity throughout his career.
Path to Major League Baseball
Díaz attended Caguas Military Academy in Caguas, Puerto Rico, where his pitching talent caught the attention of Major League scouts. He was selected by the Seattle Mariners as the 98th overall pick in the third round of the 2012 MLB draft. That same year, he made his professional debut with the AZL Mariners, appearing in nine games and posting a 2–1 record with a 5.21 earned run average (ERA) and 20 strikeouts over 19 innings pitched.
He continued his development in the minor leagues, pitching for the Pulaski Mariners in 2013 and the Clinton LumberKings in 2014, where he was co-selected as the organization’s minor league Starting Pitcher of the Year. In 2015, Díaz pitched for the Bakersfield Blaze and Jackson Generals, earning the Starting Pitcher of the Year honor for the second consecutive season. He began 2016 with Jackson as a starter before being moved to the bullpen, a transition that ultimately launched his big-league career.
Edwin Díaz Career
Seattle Mariners (2016–2018)
Díaz was called up to the majors for the first time on June 4, 2016, and made his MLB debut two days later against the Cleveland Indians, retiring all three batters he faced and recording his first strikeout. Between June 28 and July 3, he tied a Mariners franchise record by recording ten consecutive outs via strikeout, then broke it with his 11th consecutive strikeout on July 6. On August 1, he replaced Steve Cishek as the Mariners’ closer, and he recorded his first career save the following day against the Boston Red Sox. He finished his rookie season with a 6–3 record, a 1.63 ERA, 98 strikeouts, and 28 saves in 66⅓ innings across 62 games.
In 2018, Díaz emerged as one of baseball’s elite closers, earning his first All-Star selection and posting a 1.96 ERA with 124 strikeouts and 57 saves, leading the major leagues in saves. His 57 saves tied Bobby Thigpen for the second-highest single-season saves total of all time, and he was named the American League Reliever of the Year. Following the season, the Mariners traded him to the New York Mets.
New York Mets (2019–2025)
On December 3, 2018, Díaz was traded to the New York Mets along with Robinson Canó. He recorded his first save as a Met on Opening Day against the Washington Nationals. His 2019 season proved difficult, as he surrendered more hits per nine innings than in his previous year and finished with a 5.59 ERA, though he still recorded 26 saves. He rebounded in 2021, converting 32 of 38 save opportunities with a 3.45 ERA, and in 2022 he reached new heights, posting a career-best 1.31 ERA with 32 saves and 118 strikeouts. That season, he earned his second All-Star nod, won the National League Reliever of the Year Award, and was named to the All-MLB First Team.
On November 9, 2022, Díaz signed a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets, the most valuable contract ever signed by a relief pitcher at the time. However, on March 15, 2023, he suffered a right knee injury during the World Baseball Classic celebration, tearing his patellar tendon and missing the entire 2023 MLB season. He returned in 2024 and recorded his 100th save as a Met on April 15, though he battled inconsistencies and a foreign substance suspension during the year. In 2025, Díaz posted a 1.63 ERA with 28 saves and 98 strikeouts, earned his third All-Star selection, and was again named National League Reliever of the Year. He later opted out of his contract and became a free agent.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2026–Present)
On December 12, 2025, Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning a new era in his career. The move to one of baseball’s most prominent franchises signals a fresh chapter for the veteran closer, who continues to rank among the league’s top relievers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Díaz is recognized for his distinctive sidearm delivery and powerful pitching repertoire. His primary offering is a four-seam fastball that has averaged 97.7 miles per hour across his first nine MLB seasons, complemented by a sharp slider averaging 89.4 miles per hour. He is widely regarded as a strikeout pitcher, compiling an average of 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, one of the highest rates for a reliever in major league history.
Notable Events and Milestones
One month after his MLB debut, Díaz set a Mariners franchise record with 11 consecutive outs via strikeout, surpassing Hall of Famer Randy Johnson’s mark. In 2018, he recorded 57 saves, tying Bobby Thigpen for the second-highest single-season total in MLB history. On September 1, 2025, he recorded his 250th career save, and he currently leads MLB in career Reliever of the Month honors with 10 awards.
Edwin Díaz Career Wins
Throughout his career, Edwin Díaz has established himself as one of baseball’s most accomplished closers, accumulating hundreds of saves across multiple franchises. His dominance in high-leverage situations has earned him recognition as one of the premier relief pitchers in Major League Baseball.
Mariners Highlights
During his time with the Seattle Mariners from 2016 to 2018, Díaz recorded 119 saves, including a franchise-record 57 saves in 2018. That year, he led all of Major League Baseball in saves and was named the American League Reliever of the Year. He also set the Mariners’ single-season saves record with 49 saves before ultimately finishing with 57, and he became the youngest pitcher to reach 50 saves in a season.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his regular-season success, Díaz has excelled on the international stage, winning a silver medal with Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where he recorded two saves. He also represented Puerto Rico in the 2023 WBC before suffering a knee injury. In the 2024 postseason, he earned his first postseason win and first postseason save, helping the Mets reach the National League Championship Series.
Edwin Díaz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
While Edwin Díaz does not come from a traditional baseball family lineage, his younger brother, Alexis Díaz, is also a professional baseball player, currently pitching for the Texas Rangers. On May 17, 2022, Alexis recorded his first career save on the same day Edwin also earned a save, making them the third set of brothers to both record saves on the same day in MLB history.
Personal Life
Edwin Díaz spends his offseasons in his native Daguao barrio in the Naguabo Municipality of Puerto Rico, where most of his family resides. He has organized baseball clinics for local children through his Edwin Díaz Baseball Academy, with fellow players Robinson Canó and Martín Maldonado having attended these events. His popular nickname, “Sugar,” was given to him by school teammates who felt he resembled the fictional pitcher Miguel “Sugar” Santos from the 2008 film Sugar. Díaz is also well known for his walk-up song, “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a strong return to form for Edwin Díaz, who finished the year with a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 98 strikeouts across 62 appearances, along with 28 saves. In May, he was virtually untouchable, with batters going 0-for-30 against him during one stretch, earning him the National League Reliever of the Month award. He was selected to his third career All-Star Game and recorded his 250th career save on September 1 against the Detroit Tigers.
Díaz was named the National League Reliever of the Year for the second time in his career and was selected to the All-MLB Second Team. After the season, he opted out of his contract with the Mets and entered free agency. His dominant performance throughout 2025 reinforced his status as one of the top relief pitchers in baseball heading into his new deal with the Dodgers.