Derek
Diamond

Has slumped throughout the 2022 season allowing 55 hits in 49 IP and a 6.43 ERA. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander got the Sunday start for the Rebels and was strong early, throwing zeroes in the first two innings. However, a Chris Lanzilli home run in the third inning and a Michael Turner two-run shot in the fifth put an end to Diamond's day. His fastball peaked at 94 and averaged 91-92 with below average life. His velocity was far short of where it was last spring against Texas at the Shriners Classic when he threw his fastball up to 97 mph and sat 94-96 for the first few innings before settling in at 92-95. His next most-used pitch against Arkansas was a 81-86 mph slider. It played below average as five of the eight hits he allowed during the game came on sliders, including the appearance-ending Turner tank in the fifth. Diamond also showed an early count strike-stealing curveball to left handed hitters in the mid-70s and an effective changeup that graded out to near average at 77-81 mph. It began as a straight change, but developed 14-16" of fade (12.5" is college average) as the game progressed.

A California prep, the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder, might have had the most surprisingly dominant showing of anyone this past weekend. Diamond did not pitch much in the fall because of some tendonitis around his elbow, but the early reports on him this spring was that his velocity was ready to take a step forward. Those reports were not wrong. Diamond was outstanding in his performance against the Longhorns, striking out eight, walking one and allowing a run on four hits in six innings. Diamond threw his fastball up to 97 mph (#HeatSheet), and was pretty much 94-96 with the offering for the first few innings before settling in at 92-95. The talented righthander showed excellent feel for the fastball, and he commanded it throughout the zone. The fastball rode up in the zone at times, and it has some impressive, natural riding life to it. Diamond also threw a slider at 83-85 mph and it was a tight offering with excellent command on both sides of the plate, particularly on the outside part of the plate to right handed hitters. Diamond also threw a few mid-80s changeups. Diamond does have a true curveball, but he has tabled that offering for the slider, changeup and fastball combo only.

Ole Miss commit. Held to a small sample size of forty pitches, Diamond featured a five-pitch mix consisting of a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, cutter, curveball and change-up. Throwing the four-seam fastball at the highest usage in the 88-91 mph range that carried well through the zone with straight movement and hop at the top. The two-seam fastball featured good downward plane and gradual arm-side movement in the 87-88 mph range and gave right-handed hitters extension issues. The cutter was the most used off-speed pitch acting more as a hard slider with 10/4 deceptive break through the zone ranging from 74-77 mph. When located properly in the bottom half on the zone, flashed potential for a consistent swing and miss pitch at the next level. Featured a big breaking curveball with 12/6 action through the zone and a big velocity differential with a 66-70 mph range. Diamond’s curveball development is crucial for needing something slower in his pitch arsenal. Flashed a change-up twice, at 80 and 81 mph, that he releases with the same arm speed as his fastball and carried through the zone with parachute like arm side fade. 

Diamond was the guy that quickly ended many of the conversations in the stands and drew all the attention leading one scout sitting near me to say "this is what they're supposed to look like." Diamond is a two-sport standout heading to Stanford as a baseball player after his prep career is over. With an easy delivery and repeatable actions, Diamond features a true four-pitch mix. His fastball flashed some run at 89-92 and his tight curveball shows 11/5 break at 71-72. Diamond also threw a changeup at 79 that had late fading action, but it was his cutter at 75-77 that really caught everyone's attention.

The Stanford commit burst onto the scene this spring and carried that momentum into the summer where he performed well at various high level events. At the Area Code Games tryout at USC he showed a potential plus cutter to go with a slider and changeup combination that is presently above average. Diamond is a two-sport athlete (QB on football team) with high level athleticism that he carries onto the mound.