7 Runs and a Grand Slam Ended Yilber Diaz's D-backs Career, And It's Getting Worse

Alright, listen up, because the D-backs just pulled off one of the quickest roster moves you'll ever see, and it's all thanks to an absolute meltdown on the mound. On Father's Day morning, no less, they designated right-hand reliever Yilber Diaz for assignment. Why? To clear a spot for Jose Cabrera, who's about to make his Major League debut as the Sunday starter against the Minnesota Twins. Talk about a swift exit and an even swifter arrival!

The Two-Out, Seven-Run Nightmare That Shook Phoenix

You just gotta feel for the guy, even if it's not our boys in blue and green. Diaz had *just* been called up Friday night to fill in for the injured Ryne Nelson in the bullpen. He didn't even pitch Friday, but the D-backs had a brutal night, using eight pitchers because of a Michael Soroka injury and needing arms desperately on Saturday. Then Zac Gallen, their ace, got knocked out in the fifth inning without even recording an out. Cue Diaz. He came in, and holy smokes, it was a disaster from the jump. He managed to get just two outs, but in that short span, he gave up seven runs on seven hits, including a grand slam. He threw 44 pitches in that frame, 44! And still couldn't get the third out. You gotta wonder what was going through the dugout's

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mind as that unfolded.

What's Next For The Shuffling Diamondbacks Bullpen?

So, with Diaz out, they're not just bringing up Cabrera. They also called up left-hander Kohl Drake, a 25-year-old acquired from the Texas Rangers at last year's trade deadline. To make room for Drake, they optioned Philip Abner back to Triple-A Reno, after Abner threw 2.2 innings and 44 pitches Saturday night. As for Diaz, this Saturday night performance erased any improvements he’d made. He had been having *some* success as a short reliever for Reno in 2026, posting a 4.50 ERA in 32 innings in the PCL, with 43 strikeouts but also 21 walks and 32 hits. He's a hard thrower, and even had a successful debut in 2024 with a 3.81 ERA in 28 innings, but he just couldn't sustain it. Last year, he struggled to a 10.58 ERA in the minors and was converted to relief. Here's the kicker, and this is where it gets puzzling: the D-backs could've put Ryne Nelson on the 60-day Injured List, which would've opened a 40-man spot without cutting Diaz. Nelson is expected to be out for at least 8 to 12 weeks. Now, Diaz needs to clear waivers if he wants to stay in the D-backs organization. It's a tough break, but that's baseball, folks. All eyes will be on Jose Cabrera for his Sunday debut against the Twins. Let's see if he can bring some stability to that D-backs rotation!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.