Isan Diaz became the highest-selected Puerto Rican player in the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft last Thursday after being picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round, 70th pick overall. Diaz is represented by Melvin Roman, the owner and CEO of MDR Sports Management. He is the firm’s third client to be chosen in the past three consecutive years as Puerto Rico’s top pick in the MLB Draft.
When asked about where he believed he stood in the draft Diaz said, “I wasn’t expecting to be drafted on the first day, but to be chosen today (Friday) in the third or fourth round, I was switching back and forth from the NBA finals and the Draft when I got a call from my agent who informed me that Arizona was planning to select me as their 70th pick.”
Last year catcher and third baseman Victor Caratini (also an MDR Sports client) was the country’s top pick when he was selected in the second round, 65th pick overall by the Atlanta Braves and during the 2012 draft pitcher Jose Orlando Berrios was the highest drafted pitcher out of Puerto Rico chosen in the first round, 31st pick overall by the Minnesota Twins.
Isan Diaz was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Springfield, Massachusetts at the age of 4. Diaz played for Springfield Central High School as a shortstop and last season he earned ESPN Boston All-State honors after batting .435; driving in 23 runs and belting three home runs in helping his team the Golden Eagles win the Valley Wheel League title. Prior to being drafted last week, Diaz was committed to Division I Vanderbilt University.