The Cuban Yandy Díaz hit his eleventh home run of the 2026 season this Saturday, the third in his last two games, although he could not prevent the 14-3 defeat of the Tampa Bay Rays against the Los Angeles Angels.
In the game, the starter batted 4-2 with the mentioned home run, two runs scored, one RBI, one walk, and one strikeout, a noteworthy performance despite the overwhelming score against him, according to the Pelota Cubana website.
The home run came in the first inning on a slider pitch at 83.9 MPH. The ball left the bat at 103.6 MPH and traveled 396 feet to left field, marking one of the strongest hits from the player this season.
With this hit, Díaz raised his RBI total to 37 for the 2026 season, a number that places him among the most productive batters on his team.
It was also the 111th career home run for Díaz in the Major Leagues, the 66th he has hit in the first inning throughout his career, and the fifth against the Los Angeles Angels.
The day before, Díaz had hit two home runs in the Rays' 8-5 victory over the same rival, thus completing a streak of three home runs in two consecutive games that showcases the great offensive moment that the player from Sagua la Grande is experiencing.
The 2026 season has been one of the most explosive for the Cuban player since the beginning: he recorded an average of .429 in his first six games, with two home runs and eight RBIs. By April 27, he had accumulated a .337 average, four home runs, and 20 RBIs in 27 games, and by May 6, he had already added five home runs and 22 RBIs with an average of .320.
Díaz's strong performance in 2026 has direct roots in the second half of 2025. In September of that year, the player from Villa Clara reached 100 home runs for his career in MLB and was recognized as the American League Player of the Week, wrapping up his best home run season up to that point.
The organization's trust in the player was reflected in the contract numbers: the Rays exercised their option of $12 million for 2026 and agreed on a extension with a clause for 2027 of up to $13 million if Díaz achieves 500 at-bats in the current season, or $10 million if he does not.
With an OPS of .934 at the close of this Sunday, "the Cuban first baseman continues to be one of the most consistent pieces of the Tampa Bay offense and is currently experiencing one of his best offensive stretches of the season."
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