Alexis Diaz Returns To Reds And Focusing On His Role With The Reds. His Brother Edwin Is Recovering From Surgery

 

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Alexis Diaz shook off the shock of seeing his brother go down during a celebration.  Now he's focused on seeing the Diaz name next to a save in the box score.

"In regards to my brother it was tough," Diaz said.  "I was there celebrating with him and I saw him fall to his knees afterward.  It was a moment of celebration and then that happened.  The next couple days were really tough. We were supposed to have a grand old time. Seeing him in the locker room really put me down right after that."

The World Baseball Classic provided the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico literally along side his brother, who had a locker next to him and worked in tandem during bullpen sessions.

"It was brutal or in that case huge," Diaz said. "To represent your country for the first time was amazing. To see all the fans out there cheering you on to the fullest extent, there is no other way to experience it."

It was difficult for Alexis to turn the page but he did it. It just might be a lesson in which a closer handles adversity.

"I had it in my mind when I pitched the next time," Diaz recalled. "I tried to find ways to get my thoughts out of there. I went out there trying to find that type of way but I still had it in mind and couldn't get it out." 

Bell had a chat with him on Monday.  Diaz will pitch in a minor league game today against a team from the Cleveland organization and will pitch in a Cactus League game on Wednesday

"I spent some time with him yesterday.  He's going to be fine. He his brother are really close. What a great opportunity to have a chance like that then when something like that happens.  It's one thing when it's your teammate but it's his brother. It is tough," Bell said.  "He also knows that they are already think he will recover faster than was anticipated. He seemed to be in a very good frame of mind. Emotionally, he's fine and ready to get back to pitch."

Diaz is ready to pitch his way into a prominent role on the Reds' staff. 

The 26-year old younger brother of the league's all-star closer, Edwin, saved 10 games last season, seven from August through October.  

"I feel better now," Diaz said. "I've kind of come down from that moment. I've been in communication with my brother through the whole process.  He's telling me that he's good. He's going to be alright. I'm coming back with a positive mentality, much more focused on the rest of the season. It is going to be a great"

Bell, like last season, is not ready to name Diaz as the closer.

"We're working through like the roster makeup, the makeup of our bullpen," Bell said. "Myself, DJ see it in a similar way but the last two months of last season, we fell into a pattern that everyone was comfortable with. This part of the spring will explain how we see it. I don't want to get into it now. I think it will be clear once the season start. I understand the importance of roles and comfort. I think we can accomplish that and find out what gives us the best chance to win, when people know what to expect."

Diaz will pitch in a minor league game today and is scheduled to pitch in a Cactus League game on Wednesday.

Reds' manager David Bell has not committed to a closer yet but promises it will become clear when the season starts and Diaz make take control of the role like he did the last two months of the 2022 season.