Lefty Minor League pitcher throws for the out ... righty?!
With a runner barreling towards first base, Jhonathan Diaz made an unorthodox decision.
As the Triple-A Tacoma starter followed through in his delivery in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday night, the left-handed pitcher scampered to his right halfway up the third-base line and fielded a ground ball with his non-throwing hand.
Like many left-handed-throwing players, this is a completely normal and routine occurrence, but the fashion in which Diaz did so was far from ordinary. With his body positioned for a better throw with his right arm, Diaz quickly pulled the glove off his right hand, fielded the ball without a mitt and threw a one hopper to first base for the out.
With the ball having left Reno shortstop Sergio Alcántara’s bat at 53.6 mph, Diaz was looking to beat him to first base any way possible. By fielding and turning, the full-time-southpaw, now maybe-part-time-righty would've lost optimal time in securing the first out of the inning.
Diaz ended his evening after the sixth inning with an equally unique line that featured six runs allowed -- four earned -- on 12 hits without any walks while striking out four.
The Rainiers held onto a 12-10 victory over the Aces at Greater Nevada Field, keeping Diaz's perfect record in tact at 6-0 after eight appearances (seven starts) this season. The 27-year-old lefty has posted a 2.86 ERA in 44 frames against Pacific Coast League hitters, good for fourth best on the hitter-friendly circuit.