Scott Michael Diamond (born July 30, 1986) is a Canadian former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professiona ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, who attempts to e ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...
(MLB) for the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area ...
and
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
.
Amateur career
Diamond played college baseball at
Binghamton University
The State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University or SUNY Binghamton) is a public research university with campuses in Binghamton, Vestal, and Johnson City, New York. It is one of the four university centers in the State ...
, for the
Binghamton Bearcats
The Binghamton Bearcats are the NCAA Division I athletics teams at Binghamton University located in Binghamton, New York. United States. They are one of four Division I programs in the SUNY system. A member of the America East Conference, Bingh ...
under head coach
Tim Sinicki
Timothy Sinicki is an American college baseball coach, who has been the head coach of the Binghamton Bearcats since the start of the 1993 season. Under Sinicki, Binghamton has appeared in two NCAA Division I Baseball Championships.
When Sini ...
. In his freshman season, 2005, he was named
America East Rookie of the Year. He played three years at Binghamton before he decided to go pro. He is now a member of the Binghamton University Athletic Hall of Fame. Diamond, Mike Augliera, Lee Sosa and Murphy Smith are the most recent Binghamton pitchers to be taken in the Major League Draft and/or go pro.
He also played
collegiate summer baseball
Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operate ...
in 2006 and 2007 with the
Martinsville Mustangs
The Martinsville Mustangs are a baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The team plays its home games at Hooker Field in Martinsville, Virginia. The Mustangs first started participating in the Coastal Pla ...
of the
Coastal Plain League (CPL). Diamond led the CPL in
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the numb ...
(ERA) in 2006, posting a 0.50 ERA in
innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning ...
.
Professional career
Minor league career
Diamond was not selected in the
2008 Major League Baseball draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.
First round selections
;Key
Supplemental first rou ...
. He signed as an
undrafted free-agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
with the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in B ...
organization.
Diamond played for the
Rome Braves
The Rome Braves are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They are located in Rome, Georgia, and play their home games at AdventHealth Stadium. From 2003 to 2020, the team served ...
and the
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a Minor League Baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Pelicans compete in the Carolina League. Home games are played at TicketReturn.com Field, which opene ...
in 2008. He was awarded
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a Minor League Baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The Pelicans compete in the Carolina League. Home games are played at TicketReturn.com Field, which opene ...
pitcher of the year award after recording a 15–3 record and a 2.89 ERA. He played for the
Mississippi Braves
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and plays in the Southern League. ...
in 2009 and 2010 before being promoted to the
Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia (with a Lawrencevi ...
during the 2010 season.
Diamond was on the roster for Canada in the
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international baseball competition. It began on 5 9 and finished 5 26.
Unlike in 2006, when the round-robin format of the first two rounds led to some eliminations being decided by run-difference t ...
, where he made a relief appearance for three innings in their game against the
Italian national baseball team
The Italy national baseball team represents Italy in international baseball competitions. The Italian national team was ranked 17th in the world as of 2020. The team is managed by Mike Piazza, a former New York Mets player and Major League Baseba ...
at the
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre (originally SkyDome) is a multi-purpose stadium, multi-purpose retractable roof stadium in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated at the base of the CN Tower near the northern shore of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989 on the fo ...
.
Minnesota Twins
On December 9, 2010, Diamond was selected by the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area ...
in the
2010
File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
Rule 5 draft. Towards the conclusion of spring training, the Twins acquired Diamond from the Braves for prospect Billy Bulluck, allowing them to send Diamond to the minors. The Twins purchased his contract on July 17, and he made his MLB debut the following day.
In 2012, Diamond began the season with the Triple-A
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Field, located in do ...
. After starting six games and compiling a 4–1 record and a 2.60 ERA in innings, he was called up to the Twins on May 7. On May 8, Diamond beat the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
, allowing four hits and one walk in seven shutout innings. Diamond then became an everyday starter for the team, recording 8 wins by mid-July.
On July 27, 2012, Diamond pitched his first career complete-game/shutout against the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
. In the start, he allowed only three hits and struck out six batters as the Twins won 11–0. Diamond was ejected by umpire
Wally Bell
Wallace Robert Bell (January 10, 1965 – October 14, 2013) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB) who worked in the National League from 1992 to 1999 and in both major leagues from 2000 to 2013. He wore the number 36 while a Nati ...
from a game against the
Texas Rangers on August 23 after throwing a pitch behind the head of
Josh Hamilton
Joshua Holt Hamilton (born May 21, 1981) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from to , most prominently as a member of the Texas Rangers teams that won two consecutive Americ ...
. Diamond was suspended for six games as a result of that incident. In his first full season, he led the American League in fewest Walks Allowed per 9 Innings Pitched, allowing only 1.613.
On March 22, 2013, Diamond was placed on the 15-day disabled list to start the 2013 season. Diamond came off the disabled list on April 13. Diamond was optioned to Rochester on August 2. He was recalled on September 9, after Rochester was eliminated from the
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ( ...
playoffs.
On March 26, 2014, Diamond was placed on waivers. He was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester the next day. On July 12, Diamond was released by the Twins organization.
Cincinnati Reds
On July 15, 2014, Diamond signed a minor league contract with the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
. He was assigned to their Triple A affiliate
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the winged mammal and baseball ...
.
Tampa Bay Rays
Diamond signed a minor league contract with the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...
on April 5, 2015. He elected free agency on November 6, 2015.
Toronto Blue Jays
On November 24, 2015, Diamond signed a minor league contract with the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
that includes an invitation to spring training. He was assigned to minor league camp on March 18, 2016. Diamond was called up by the Blue Jays on June 13, and was designated for assignment the following day. On June 17, Diamond was outrighted back to the Triple-A
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen ...
. Diamond elected free agency on October 14, 2016.
SK Wyverns
On December 11, 2016, Diamond signed a one-year, $600,000 contract with the
SK Wyverns
SSG Landers () are a South Korean professional baseball team. The team was originally established as the SK Wyverns but was renamed as the SSG Landers in 2021 after Shinsegae acquired the team from SK Group. They are a member of the KBO League. ...
of the
KBO League
The KBO League (), officially the Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League, is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are ...
.
He became a free agent after the season.
See also
*
Rule 5 draft results
Below are lists of Rule 5 draft results since 1997. Players selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) phase of the Rule 5 draft must be kept on their new team's active roster for the entire following MLB season, or they are placed on waivers ...
References
External links
MiLB.com profileBaseballAmerican.com profile*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diamond, Scott
1986 births
Living people
Baseball people from Ontario
Binghamton Bearcats baseball players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Canadian expatriate baseball players in South Korea
Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States
Durham Bulls players
Gigantes del Cibao players
Canadian expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
Gwinnett Braves players
KBO League pitchers
Louisville Bats players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players from Canada
Minnesota Twins players
Mississippi Braves players
Myrtle Beach Pelicans players
Rome Braves players
Rochester Red Wings players
SSG Landers players
Sportspeople from Guelph
Toronto Blue Jays players
World Baseball Classic players of Canada
2009 World Baseball Classic players