Padres rookie Miguel Diaz will make his first Major League start Saturday

With injuries continuing to plague the Padres pitching staff, another rookie will be making Major League starting debut tomorrow. Right-hander Miguel Diaz is set to take the mound tomorrow at Petco Park against the visiting Kansas City Royals.

The Padres acquired Diaz in last year’s Rule 5 Draft, from the Milwaukee Brewers, as the first overall pick. Prior to this season, he had never played above single-A. He earned a spot on the Opening Day roster with San Diego, and he’s spent the last two months in the bullpen. Now with Jarred Cosart recently injured (right elbow strain), joining Trevor Cahill and Jered Weaver already on the DL, Diaz is getting the call.

Diaz’ 2017 season started off very strong, but he ran into some struggles last month, ballooning his ERA to 10.67. He was shut down for a week to work on his mechanics, and it’s made all the difference both in terms of his actual performance and his confidence on the mound.

Long-term, the Padres hope to have Diaz as a staple in the bullpen for seasons to come, and eventually (hopefully) be a part of a contending San Diego team in a few years.