Part-time foreign players in Japan and those who post sub-par batting statistics usually do not get a second-year contract, let alone a third, to continue playing here. Hiroshima Carp utility infielder Eddy Diaz hit a mediocre .263 with eight home runs and 53 runs batted in, playing 110 games during his first Japanese season in 1999. Last year, he did even worse, seeing action in 86 games and hitting the same total of eight homers, but his average dropped to .254 and his RBI total slipped to 31.

Eddy Diaz of the Carp cranks one out against the Tigers.

However, new Hiroshima manager Koji Yamamoto must have seen something he liked to justify keeping Diaz on the team. Maybe it was his defensive ability and the fact the versatile Venezuelan can play second base, shortstop or third. Whatever, Diaz was on the bench when this season began; a reserve to be used as a pinch hitter or a late-inning replacement in the field.