Dominican Republic right-handed pitcher and Olympic bronze medalist, Jose “Jumbo” Diaz retired from professional baseball in last and only relief appearance in the 2024-25 LIDOM regular season with the Toros del Este on Sunday, December 22 in a 4-3 loss at home in La Romana, Dominican Republic at Estadio Francisco Micheli against the Estrellas Orientales.
Toros del Este reconocen a José Rafael “Jumbo” Díaz por sus más de 10 temporadas con la franquicia taurina. Orgullo romanense, líder en el clubhouse y un verdadero Toro de corazón. ¡GRACIAS BUTY! @ElJumboDiaz pic.twitter.com/UGKzQAMbTe
— Toros Del Este (@TorosdelEste) December 22, 2024
Diaz threw one inning out of the bullpen on Sunday and did not give up an earned run alongside allowing one hit after replacing Toros del Este starting pitcher Pablo Espino, who threw four innings.
https://x.com/lidomrd/status/1871222615341457906?s=46&t=iqpCiRBt6XoPK58Lx566JQ
Diaz was an assistant pitching coach for the Toros coaching staff during the 2024-25 regular season prior to appearing on Sunday.
He was 20-16 in his LIDOM career with a 3.50 ERA in 338 games, including the regular season and postseason.
Diaz threw 315.2 innings, allowing 278 hits, walked 130 and struck out 301 batters.
Wearing the bullfighting uniform, Díaz had a record of 14-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 195 games, striking out 176, while chucking 181 innings, including playoffs.
Diaz has the most games played in the Toros del Este franchise with 195.
Diaz played in his LIDOM career with the Azucareros del Este in the 2008-09 season, the Toros del Este from 2009-18, the Estrellas Orientales from 2018-20, the Leones del Escogido from 2020-22, and the Gigantes del Cibao in the 2022-23 season.
Diaz represented the Dominican Republic in three Caribbean Series in 2011, 2019 and 2021.
Diaz helped the Aguilas Cibaenas win their sixth Caribbean Series title in 2021, while beating the Criollos de Caguas from Puerto Rico in the championship game 4-1 in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal. He was a reinforcement to their roster and had four appearances out of the bullpen without allowing an earned run, throwing four innings and striking out five batters.
He won a bronze medal while he played for the Dominican Republic national team under manager Hector Borg and beat South Korea 10-6 in Yokohama Stadium at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Diaz had five appearances out of the bullpen, throwing five innings with one save, posting a 3.60 ERA, allowing five hits, two earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts.
Diaz also played during his international career in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico with the Tomateros de Culiacán and in Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Toros de Tijuana in 2019, the Diablos Rojos del México from 2021-22 and the Guerreros de Oaxaca in 2022.
The 40-year old was born in La Romana, Dominican Republic and played in four seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds from 2014-16 and with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017.
Diaz began his professional career when he signed to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the international signing period on May 14, 2001 to a minor league contract.
Diaz played 12 seasons in the minors with the Dodgers from 2001-07, the Texas Rangers in 2009, the Baltimore Orioles from 2010-11, the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012 and the Reds from 2013-14 before he made his MLB debut.
In his four MLB seasons, Diaz has posted a 4-7 record with a 4.02 ERA in 173 appearances out of the bullpen, throwing 168 innings, one save, allowing 155 hits, 75 earned runs, 24 home runs, 66 walks, 172 strikeouts, and a 1.315 WHIP.
According to Baseball Reference, Diaz between all levels in the Caribbean Series, minors, MLB, Mexico and the Dominican Republic in his 22 professional seasons has a lifetime record of 53-61, with a 3.24 ERA, starting in 24 games with 968 appearances, 187 saves, throwing 1,051.1 innings, allowing 892 hits, 378 earned runs, 77 home runs, 431 walks, 1,058 strikeouts, and a 1.258 WHIP.
The Toros del Este ended their record for the regular season at 17-30 in last place. They did not qualify for the 2024-25 LIDOM Round Robin and lost 4-3 to the Estrellas Orientales on December 23 on the road in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic at Estadio Tetelo Vargas.
