Laz Díaz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lazaro Antonio Díaz (born March 29, 1963 in Miami, Florida) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He joined the American League's full-time staff in 1999, and has worked in both major leagues since 2000.
His professional umpiring career began after he attended the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School in 1991. He worked his way up to the International League for the 1995 season. Díaz was one of the 22 umpires promoted to the major leagues in the wake of the Major League Umpires Association's mass-resignation strategy in July 1999. Prior to his professional umpiring career, he served in the Marine Corps Reserves. Díaz's hand-to-hand combat skills were displayed on the baseball diamond when he was attacked by an intoxicated fan while umpiring first base in a game at Chicago's Comiskey Park in April 2003. He easily stifled the attack, and the fan was later sentenced to jail time for aggravated battery.
Diaz was the second base umpire when Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's career home run record.
He has worked the American League Division Series in 2002, 2006 and 2007. He also umpired the All-Star Game in 2000.
For the 2008 season, Díaz is assigned to John Hirschbeck's crew along with Wally Bell and Paul Schrieber. Diaz is a contributing umpire to Blue 4 Kids.
Diaz is featured in Pepsi commercials with New York Yankee Johnny Damon, the Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer and broadcaster Gary Thorne.
