Rays Grades: Yandy Diaz's 2023 season was his best

Yandy Diaz was signed to an extension before the 2023 major league baseball season. During the year, he proved why he was worthy of the $24 million he got. It was arguably the best year in his career as he began to enter the veteran portion of his years in the MLB. 

In 2023, Diaz reached a career-best in many categories. He had the best batting average of his career at .330 with a career high in slugging percentage at .522. He ranked tops on the team in those respective categories. 

Diaz was also a run-getter within Tampa Bay's lineup hitting the 20+ home run mark and had over 75 RBI in 2023. He was top five on the Rays in those two categories as well.

Prior to 2023, Diaz had always been known as a patient hitter and showed good discipline at the plate. That remained the same with chase, whiff, and K rates all in the 86th percentile or better throughout the entire league.

He also drew a lot of walks being in the 80th percentile in major league baseball. He tallied 65 this season which was second on the team only finishing behind Randy Arozarena.

One of the things emphasized about Diaz's game is how he needed to swing for power more and that was apparent with increases in lots of measurements like his exit velocity which had an average of 93.5 mph and his hard hitting percentage which was over 50%. In. year number seven in the majors, he is beginning to put the barrel to the ball a lot more.

Diaz continued what he has always been successful with while being a Ray and increased his hitting ability. He has earned a spot at the top of the Tampa Bay lineup for the foreseeable future and is a steadfast anchor for the Rays. He arguably had the best season out of any Tampa Bay player.

Yandy Diaz 2023 Player Grade: A