PHOENIX – Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Alexis Díaz entered the 2022 season with a completely blank slate.
Since he had never even pitched in Triple-A and was the last relief pitcher to make the team out of spring training, Díaz didn’t have any expectations for his role in a Major League bullpen.
Two months later, Díaz is Reds manager David Bell’s go-to option in the biggest moments of the game. Díaz entered Monday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 2.48 ERA, and Bell has been using Díaz in the most high-leverage situations in the middle innings over the last month.