Report: Texas baseball will lose reliever Donny Diaz to Tommy John surgery

The Texas Longhorns baseball team will be without junior right-handed relief pitcher Donny Diaz for the 2018 season, as the San Jacinto College translate hasn’t pitched this fall and will undergo Tommy John surgery, according to Dustin McComas of Orangebloods.

For a pitching staff that was hit hard by the Major League Draft this season, Diaz was expected to play a significant role, perhaps even as a closer — his decision to come to the Forty Acres after his selection in the 23rd round by the Boston Red Sox was a major coup for head coach David Pierce.

In 30.1 innings pitched as a closer at San Jacinto this year, Diaz had 60 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA, accumulating three wins and seven saves in his 23 appearances.

The righty was nearly as dominant as a freshman, when he notched a 1.85 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 24.1 innings.

Known for his nasty slider, the 6’1, 230-pounder also throws two breaking pitches and touches 95 miles per hour on his fastball. Unfortunately, Texas will now have to wait for Diaz to rehabilitate and hope he can both regain his velocity and stick around the program.