Thomas Diamond
Encyclopedia
Thomas Nicklaus Diamond (born April 6, 1983, in New Orleans, Louisiana
) is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
who is a free agent.
. As a junior, he went 6-4, 2.38 ERA
(30 ER/113.2 IP) in 17 starts
for the Privateers, and was voted the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year. Diamond registered 4 double-digit strikeout
games, including 17 strikeouts in a complete game
win
over Arkansas State University
on March 26;he tied a school and Sun Belt Conference record with those 17 Ks. He was selected in the first round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Texas Rangers
at # 10 overall.
system, dominating the competition for Spokane
in the Northwest League
and Clinton in the Midwest League
in 2004. In the fall of 2004, Diamond made a name for himself in an obscure Instructional League game during which he tripped and fell on the mound while attempting a pickoff
move. The opposing Oakland A's
prospects laughed at Diamond, who then walked off the mound towards the A's dugout and told them that the next person to laugh was going to be wearing a fastball
in the temple. Diamond then threw his next pitch three feet behind the hitter at the plate and then delivered nine consecutive strikes to punch out the side.
In , Diamond was named the Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan
Minor League Pitcher of the Year in his first full professional season, splitting the campaign between Single-A Advanced Bakersfield
in the California League
and Frisco
in the Double-A Texas League
, combining to go 13-4 with a 3.53 ERA (59 ER/150.1 IP) and 169 strikeouts in 28 starts. He was ranked by Baseball America as the 3rd-best prospect in the Rangers system and the 4th-best prospect in the Texas League.
Diamond returned to Frisco in where he led the Texas League in strikeouts, but struggled with control. During spring training
the following year, he experienced elbow soreness and was found to have a torn elbow ligament. He underwent Tommy John surgery
and missed the entire season while recuperating. Diamond struggled in with a 6.20 ERA in 12 games for Double-A Frisco.
On September 1, 2009, Diamond was designated for assignment by the Rangers, on September 4 the Cubs acquired him.
On September 21, 2009, the Cubs designated him for assignment, making room for Tyler Colvin, never throwing a pitch for any team in the system. Diamond reported to the club's Mexicali team, replacing pitcher Jeff Samardzija
on the roster.
On August 3, 2010, Diamond made his major league debut against the Milwaukee Brewers
. Diamond pitched 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 7 hits walking 3 and striking out 10 in a 4-3 loss to the Brewers. His 10 strikeouts tied Mark Prior for a franchise record for most strikeouts in a debut.
He was released on June 15, 2011, after recording an 8.66 ERA in nine starts and five relief appearances with the Iowa Cubs.
signed Diamond to a minor league contract on June 20 and assigned him to Triple-A Rochester
. On July 23, he was released.
. They have a baby boy, Colten.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who is a free agent.
College & draft
Diamond starred at the University of New OrleansUniversity of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
. As a junior, he went 6-4, 2.38 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(30 ER/113.2 IP) in 17 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Privateers, and was voted the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year. Diamond registered 4 double-digit strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
games, including 17 strikeouts in a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
over Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
on March 26;he tied a school and Sun Belt Conference record with those 17 Ks. He was selected in the first round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
at # 10 overall.
Chicago Cubs
Diamond quickly rose through the RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
system, dominating the competition for Spokane
Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
and Clinton in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
in 2004. In the fall of 2004, Diamond made a name for himself in an obscure Instructional League game during which he tripped and fell on the mound while attempting a pickoff
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
move. The opposing Oakland A's
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
prospects laughed at Diamond, who then walked off the mound towards the A's dugout and told them that the next person to laugh was going to be wearing a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
in the temple. Diamond then threw his next pitch three feet behind the hitter at the plate and then delivered nine consecutive strikes to punch out the side.
In , Diamond was named the Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
Minor League Pitcher of the Year in his first full professional season, splitting the campaign between Single-A Advanced Bakersfield
Bakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. The Bakersfield Blaze play their home games at Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark...
in the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
and Frisco
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
in the Double-A Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, combining to go 13-4 with a 3.53 ERA (59 ER/150.1 IP) and 169 strikeouts in 28 starts. He was ranked by Baseball America as the 3rd-best prospect in the Rangers system and the 4th-best prospect in the Texas League.
Diamond returned to Frisco in where he led the Texas League in strikeouts, but struggled with control. During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
the following year, he experienced elbow soreness and was found to have a torn elbow ligament. He underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and missed the entire season while recuperating. Diamond struggled in with a 6.20 ERA in 12 games for Double-A Frisco.
On September 1, 2009, Diamond was designated for assignment by the Rangers, on September 4 the Cubs acquired him.
On September 21, 2009, the Cubs designated him for assignment, making room for Tyler Colvin, never throwing a pitch for any team in the system. Diamond reported to the club's Mexicali team, replacing pitcher Jeff Samardzija
Jeff Samardzija
Jeffrey Alan Samardzija is an American baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs...
on the roster.
On August 3, 2010, Diamond made his major league debut against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Diamond pitched 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 7 hits walking 3 and striking out 10 in a 4-3 loss to the Brewers. His 10 strikeouts tied Mark Prior for a franchise record for most strikeouts in a debut.
He was released on June 15, 2011, after recording an 8.66 ERA in nine starts and five relief appearances with the Iowa Cubs.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
signed Diamond to a minor league contract on June 20 and assigned him to Triple-A Rochester
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. On July 23, he was released.
Personal
Diamond married his wife Alison in December 2007 in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. They have a baby boy, Colten.