Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Yusniel Diaz of the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes was named California League Player of the Week for June 19-25. At the Major League level, Cody Bellinger was recognized for the same week of games played.
Diaz appeared in four games and went 9-for-19, batting .474/.476/1.105 with four doubles, one triple, two home runs and seven RBI. Included in that stretch was a monster 4-for-6 effort with two doubles, one triple and two RBI against the Lancaster JetHawks (Colorado Rockies affiliate).
Diaz enters play Tuesday hitting .288/.352/.443 with 14 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 35 RBI in 66 games this season. The 20-year-old Cuban native is in his second season with the Quakes.
Last year, Diaz batted .272/.333/.418 with eight doubles, eight home runs and 54 RBI over 82 games for the Quakes.
The Dodgers signed Diaz for $15.5 million in November 2015. He had been ranked by Baseball America No. 17 among the top-20 Cuban players in April of that year. Diaz was a major chip in the Dodgers’ spending spree during the 2015-16 international signing period.
He’s the fourth Quakes player to take home California League honors this season. Diaz joins D.J. Peters (twice), Will Smith and Mitchell White in being recognized by the league.
