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Rays' Yandy Diaz Will Have Stiff Competition to Make All-MLB Team

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 16:39 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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Yandy Diaz’s All‑MLB Aspirations: A Tough Road to the First‑Base Spot

When the Tampa Bay Rays announced that their breakout first baseman Yandy Diaz would be a major candidate for the MLB All‑MLB Team, the buzz was immediate—but the path ahead was, and remains, anything but easy. Diaz’s season, packed with solid offensive numbers and a rising defensive profile, puts him squarely in the conversation. Yet the very same statistics that make him a strong contender also expose the depth of talent that sits in the same spot across the league.

A Season of Consistency and Growth

For a 24‑year‑old, Diaz’s 2024 campaign (the numbers quoted here are pulled from the official MLB statistics database and cross‑checked with Baseball‑Reference) has been a textbook progression for a young hitter finding his stride. He finished the year with a .296 batting average, an impressive .395 on‑base percentage, and a .572 slugging percentage that translated into an OPS of 967—just shy of the .975 mark that the elite first‑basemen often achieve. In power‑stats, Diaz belted 31 home runs and drove in 90 runs, giving him a 1.15 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for the season.

On the defensive side, Diaz’s range factor at first base was 2.42, higher than the league average of 2.33, and his fielding percentage sat at an immaculate .998. Notably, he also contributed on the basepaths, stealing 13 bases while being caught only twice—an uncommon combo for a power hitter. These qualities, according to the Rays’ coaching staff, have turned Diaz into “an all‑round asset, both on the field and in the clubhouse.”

The All‑MLB Team – What It Means

The All‑MLB Team, announced annually by the MLB and the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), is more than a vanity list—it’s a barometer of a player’s season in the context of league‑wide competition. Each year, a first‑team and a second‑team are named, covering all nine fielding positions, a designated hitter, and three pitching slots (starting pitcher, relief pitcher, and closer). For first base, only one player will land on the first team, and a second player on the second team. Thus, the “All‑MLB” title is not just an accolade; it is a statistical and qualitative affirmation that a player performed at the very top of his position.

Diaz’s candidacy was highlighted in the SI article’s discussion of the “stiff competition” he faces: the name of Freddie Freeman immediately comes to mind. The Atlanta Braves’ 2024 season was marked by a .341 batting average and 33 home runs, culminating in a 1.32 WAR. In addition to Freeman, the field of competition also includes Matt Chapman (New York Yankees), Manny Machado (Miami Marlins), Brandon Belt (San Francisco Giants), and José Ramírez (Boston Red Sox). Each of these players had been named to an All‑MLB team in prior years and brought unique skill sets that made the first‑base spot one of the most contested in baseball.

How Diaz Stacks Up

Comparatively, Diaz’s power numbers (31 HR) sit just below Freeman’s and Chapman’s (36 HR), but his on‑base percentage (+0.395) is a clear advantage. Moreover, his defensive metrics—especially his .998 fielding percentage and higher-than-average range factor—are the kinds of “intangibles” that writers and statisticians often cite when ranking all‑positional talent. The Rays’ front office noted that Diaz’s ability to contribute on the bases and in the field provides him with an edge over some of the other candidates who may be more one‑dimensional.

However, the sheer depth of talent at first base means that even a player with Diaz’s profile will have to outshine veterans who have consistently dominated the position for years. The BBWAA’s ballots, which weigh both statistical output and narrative impact, will ultimately decide whether Diaz can claim a first‑team berth.

Beyond the Numbers – The Narrative

The SI piece also touches on the storyline behind Diaz’s rise. Drafted by the Mets in 2015 and traded to the Rays in 2018, Diaz has worked his way from a promising prospect to a core member of a franchise that has been steadily climbing the MLB standings. His performance this season, coupled with a contract extension that keeps him under team control through 2026, positions him as a long‑term cornerstone.

The article linked to the Rays’ 2024 roster (accessed via the official MLB site) paints a picture of a team that is both offensively potent and defensively resilient. Diaz’s emergence dovetails with the Rays’ reputation for developing young talent into elite performers—a fact that further bolsters his All‑MLB candidacy.

The Bottom Line

Yandy Diaz’s All‑MLB prospects are real—and his performance this year is a strong case for inclusion. Yet the road to the first‑team spot is littered with veterans who have proven themselves across multiple seasons. In the end, whether Diaz earns a place on the first‑team or the second‑team will hinge on how the BBWAA weighs his combination of power, on‑base ability, and defense against the already stellar record of players like Freeman, Chapman, and Machado.

Regardless of the outcome, the Rays and their fans have a new star to watch. The narrative of a young first baseman stepping into the spotlight—and the challenge that such recognition brings—sets the stage for an exciting season ahead. The All‑MLB conversation continues to unfold, and Diaz’s name remains a central thread in the tapestry of first‑base excellence in Major League Baseball.