AquaSox’s Ogui Diaz takes the mound

Published 10:55 pm Thursday, June 17, 2010

EVERETT — Ogui Diaz knows what a pitch looks like at Everett Memorial Stadium.

For two seasons Diaz stepped to the plate every day as the regular shortstop for the Everett AquaSox, facing both the best and worst the Northwest League’s pitchers had to offer.

Well, Diaz is back in Everett, but this time he’s staring down those fastballs from the opposite end.

After a two-year absence Diaz has returned to the AquaSox, but instead of a position player this time he’s a pitcher.

“It feels great to be back as a pitcher,” Diaz, a native of the Dominican Republic, said through translator Dwight Britton. “It’s a little bit different than being an infielder, but it feels good.”

Diaz was a fixture in the Everett lineup during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, though he had his struggles. In 2006, he batted .240 with 10 RBI. In 2007, he hit .225 with three home runs and 14 RBI, and in both seasons had issues in the field.

The past two seasons Diaz was something of a vagabond, bouncing from location to location within the Mariners organization. He spent time in the high-Class A California League with High Desert, in the mid-Class A Midwest League with Clinton and in the Class AA Southern League with West Tennessee, never batting above .245 or achieving regular status.

Diaz’s career seemed headed into oblivion, but a fateful July 7 night while playing in Clinton, Iowa, last season changed his career path. The LumberKings were getting hammered and were out of pitching, so Diaz was summoned to pitch the ninth. Diaz hadn’t pitched since he was 11 years old, but he tossed a perfect inning, and a new career was born.

“The game was like 12-2, so they gave me a chance,” Diaz recalled. “I got to like it, so I stayed a pitcher.”

Diaz headed to Peoria of the rookie Arizona League to begin learning his new craft, then got some time in with Pulaski of the rookie Appalachian League. Between the two locations he tossed 142/3 innings with a 3.68 earned-run average, allowing 15 hits, seven walks and striking out 13.

Now, he’s beginning the climb up the organizational ladder again, and so far so good.

“Ogui has done a good job in his conversion,” AquaSox pitching coach Rich Dorman said. “We had a conversion guy last year, Eddy Hernandez. Eddy had a great arm, Ogui has a great arm. Eddy struggled to throw strikes, this guy is going to pound the strike zone. And he’s our best pitcher off the mound, going back to his fielding background, so the conversion isn’t as hard for him.”

Diaz currently throws a fastball, slider and changeup. He considers his fastball, which tops out at 91 mph, his best pitch. So far he’s found the conversion challenging.

“I try to work and get better every day,” Diaz said. “Right now I’m doing good. It’s a long process, but I’m getting better.”

Because Diaz is new to pitching, Dorman will be working on the basics more with Diaz than with a typical member of Everett’s pitching staff.

“Repeating his delivery is going to be key for him,” Dorman said. “It’s getting more consistent with his pitches day in and day out,” Dorman added. “He’ll show real good one day, then not have it the next, which is typical of young pitchers. Consistency is what I’m hoping to get with Ogui.

“We may try to adjust his delivery a little throughout the year if we need to create more deception,” Dorman added.

Diaz will begin the season in Everett’s bullpen. At first he’ll be used in long relief and low-pressure situations, but if he shows progress, he’ll start being used at more important junctures of games.

And Dorman said he believes Diaz has the tools to make pitching a legitimate professional career, rather than just a lark.

“He’s got a chance,” Dorman said. “He’s got an arm. He’s got some life and deception. The biggest thing is just getting him out there in games, getting him used to the environment and the routine of being a pitcher.”

As for his days as a shortstop, Diaz hinted at missing the days when he got to bat and field. However, he’s determined to forge ahead in his new position.

“I forget about it,” Diaz said of his former career. “I left it behind me and I’ve moved forward.”