Derek Diamond
Derek Diamond
Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 01/04/2001
College: University of Mississippi
How Acquired: Draft 6th Round, 170th Overall, 2022
Bonus: $311,600
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Minor League Free Agency: 2028
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Pirates are gambling that Diamond will revert to the pitcher he was in 2021. For the 2022 draft, he was ranked 210th by Baseball America and was unranked by MLB.com. As a sophomore he threw 92-97 mph with an above-average slider. As a junior his velocity was down to the low-90s or lower and the slider was less effective. His ERA shot up from 5.26 to 6.89, and his K/9 dropped from 9.80 to 7.85. He didn’t pitch at all in the College World Series in Omaha in 2022. Diamond’s control and athleticism are good, but he’s obviously a project. Early in his time with the Pirates, Diamond was averaging a little over 92 mph with his fastball and throwing the slider and an occasional change. He signed for exactly the slot amount.
2022-23
After signing, Diamond got into three games in the FCL. In 2023, he pitched mainly out of the Bradenton rotation through mid-July. He got hit around some early, but pitched increasingly well. In his last five starts he had a 2.10 ERA. The Pirates moved him up to Greensboro, where he made nine starts. That didn’t go well at all, more than anything else due to gopher balls; Diamond gave up 11 in just 45.1 IP. Seven of those came in his three road starts, so the Greensboro park can’t be blamed. On the season, Diamond’s control was good but his K rate was very low.
2024
Diamond spent 2024 in the Greensboro rotation. He had a very low walk rate — 1.8 BB/9 — but got hit around some. Opponents hit .277 with 16 home runs in 95.2 IP, although 12 of those came in the homer-prone park in Greensboro. Diamond had a low K/9 of 7.8.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2019: Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 40th round, 1202nd overall pick.
July 18, 2022: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 6th round, 170th overall pick; signed on July 24.