TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State shortstop Randal Diaz was selected by the Washington Nationals in the fifth round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
 
Diaz (Pick: 141) marks the 15th Indiana State baseball player drafted since 2014 and 91st Sycamore to be taken in the MLB Draft since 1965. Diaz's selection in the fifth-round marks the highest an Indiana State player has been drafted since former ISU pitcher Jeff Degano went in the second round (Pick: 57) to the New York Yankees back in 2015.
 
Diaz wrapped up the 2023 season earning 2024 ABCA/Rawlings All-Midwest Region Second Team honors, in addition to NCAA Lexington Regional All-Tournament team honors. He added MVC First Team All-Conference and MVC All-Tournament honors for the second consecutive season among his postseason accolades.
 
The Toa Alta, Puerto Rico native was one of the top hitters in the Missouri Valley in his junior season finishing among the Valley leaders in batting average (.360, 4th), slugging percentage (.632, 10th), and on-base percentage (.437, 9th) while sitting atop the Indiana State lineup. Diaz posted 91 hits in his junior season including 15 doubles and a career-high 18 home runs, while scoring 55 runs and driving in 55 RBIs.
 
He led Indiana State with 30 multi-hit games over the year and was fourth on the team with 12 multi-RBI contests. He wrapped up the 2024 season on a 32-game hitting streak spanning April 5 – June 2, and a 38-game on-base streak spanning March 24 – June 2.
 
Diaz posted a .322 career batting average with the Sycamores over 168 games (165 starts) while lining up across the infield. He's posted 220 career hits including 47 doubles and 35 home runs, while adding 135 runs scored and 128 RBIs. He added 13 career stolen bases and a career .954 fielding percentage over his three years at Indiana State.
 
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