The Los Angeles Dodgers added some depth to their bullpen earlier this season when they acquired former All-Star closer Alexis Díaz from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitching prospect Mike Villani.
The right-hander was dominant in his first two seasons with the Reds before taking a step back last year. Those struggles continued into the 2025 season, which led to Díaz being optioned to Triple-A Louisville and eventually traded.
The 28-year-old returned to Great American Ball Park on Tuesday and was greeted with boos from Reds fans. He nevertheless retired all four batters faced and received the win in the Dodgers’ 5-4 victory.
Díaz admitted after the game that he was taken off guard by the negative reception he received from Reds fans, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“I expected something different,” Díaz, a 2023 All-Star with the Reds who fell out of favor after a brutal start to this season, said in Spanish. “For those years I was here, I pitched really well and I was liked during that time. So to see that, it surprised me a lot. But I stayed calm and with the relaxed mindset and confidence that I was going to do my job.”
Díaz was once an emerging star in Cincinnati, but quickly fell out of favor with the Reds and seemingly the fanbase as well.
The one-time All-Star has now thrown 3.1 scoreless innings since being recalled by the Dodgers earlier this month. He has collected two strikeouts without walking a batter while allowing only two hits in three appearances.
Edwin Díaz believes Dodgers can ‘help’ Alexis Díaz
After the trade to L.A., New York Mets All-Star closer Edwin Díaz expressed confidence the Dodgers can help his brother get back on track.
That has played out so far, which is something general manager Brandon Gomes also felt strongly about.
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