Derek Diamond: With health, "Can pitch as long as he wants"

Former sixth round pick takes alternate approach on mound.

Photo Credit: WTM

It wasn’t the ideal ending to a college career for Derek Diamond, who, after a promising freshman season during the shortened COVID year, was bumped from the rotation and didn’t pitch during Ole Miss’ run during the College World Series.

So, when the Pirates drafted him in the sixth round of the 2022 MLB Draft, they hoped that with the right coaching, he could get back on the right path he was on during high school and as a freshman at Ole Miss.

He didn’t get off to the best of starts in Single-A Bradenton, posting a 5.00 ERA in 18 innings during the season's first month.

Diamond adjusted, with some details in an article by Alex Stumpf at DK Pittsburgh Sports. His ERA would drop in each of the next three months (4.86, 3.43, 2.77) before the home run ball got ahold of him while playing in Greensboro during August and September.