"There's nothing I can do about it," said Diaz, smiling. "I've kept busy in the bullpen, early batting practice ... just watching."
And, maybe going just a little stir-crazy. This is the longest the cannon-armed 24-year-old has gone without playing since the start of the 2013 Minor League season, when he embarked on his journey into the Bucs' future plans.
Diaz has logged a total of 300 games in the interim, squatting through Class A Advanced Bradenton, Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis on the Pirates' chain, the 2013-14 seasons in his native Venezuelan Winter League, and the '14 Arizona Fall League.