Pirates option Diaz, Moroff to AAA

The Pittsburgh Pirates option catcher Elias Diaz and infielder Max Moroff to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Diaz began the 2016 season on Pittsburgh’s 15-day disabled list (retroactive to Mar. 25) with lateral right elbow discomfort. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow on May 5. Diaz was transferred to the 60-day D.L. on May 19, and began rehab assignment with Bradenton on JUly 4. He went 4-for-5 in his sixth game with the Marauders on July 13 at Dunedin and went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in seventh and final game with Bradenton on July 14. Diaz had rehab transferred to Double-A Altoona on July 16. He played two games with the Curve before having rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Indianapolis on July 18. He went hitless in four at bats in lone rehab game with Indy on July 19. He was reinstated from the 60-day D.L. and optioned to Indianapolis on July 20. Diaz went 3-for-7 in two games with Indianapolis before being recalled by Pittsburgh on July 23 when Eric Fryer went on the Paternity List.He made his first Major League start on July 24 vs. Philadelphia and went 0-for-4 with an RBI; also picked a runner off second base (Carlos Ruiz) in the fourth inning. Diaz was optioned back to Indianapolis on July 26. He collected a season- high three hits on Aug. 5 vs. Toledo. Diaz played in his final contest on Sep. 1 after suffering a left leg infection. He was treated for cellulitis on his left leg in Pittsburgh on Sep. 5, and was recalled by Pittsburgh and placed on the 60-day disabled list on Sep. 13, but was then reinstated on Nov. 4. 

Moroff spent all but one week of the 2016 season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he led the International League in walks - the next highest total was 66. He drew multiple walks in a game 23 times, including a pair of three-walk efforts. Moroff tied for third in the league in games, three shy of his career-high of 136 in 2015. He reached base safely in 23 consecutive games from June 12 to July 5, the ninth-longest streak in the league in 2016 (batted .297 with a .465 OBP over that span). Moroff was recalled by Pittsburgh on July 31 and made his Major League debut that afternoon in Milwaukee; struck out as a pinch hitter against lefty Will Smith. He also struck out in a pinch-hitting role on Aug. 3 at Atlanta. Moroff was optioned back to Indianapolis on Aug. 4, and made 61 appearances (60 starts) at second base, 43 appearances (37 starts) at third base and 20 appearances (17 starts) at shortstop while playing with Indianapolis.