Colorado Rockies Catcher Elias Diaz Wins MLB All-Star Game MVP After Clutch Home Run

The 32-year-old first-time All-Star stepped up big time as a pinch hitter, delivering the National League its first win over the American League since 2012.

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz made the most of his first career MLB All-Star Game appearance, drilling a go-ahead, pinch-hit, two-run home run in the eighth inning en route to historic MVP honors.

Diaz was facing Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista, who finished the first half of the season with a 1.07 ERA and 18.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Bautista walked Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos to lead off the eighth, though, putting the tying run on base for Diaz in a tight 2-1 contest.

The 32-year-old veteran made Bautista pay for his mistake on a 2-2 count, rocketing a hanging splitter straight over the left field wall. Diaz smiled as he rounded the bases, and he put his team on top 3-2 when he crossed home plate.

The American League was unable to answer in the ensuing two frames, and Diaz's homer wound up giving the National League its first win in the Midsummer Classic since 2012.

Diaz becomes the Rockies' first-ever All-Star Game MVP, which has been awarded dating back to 1962. No catcher had earned the honor since Brian McCann in 2010, and the last catcher to win before him was Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1997.

ELIAS DÍAZ GO-AHEAD HOME RUN FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE! @Rockies | #AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/P57AMAU9sT

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 12, 2023

Diaz was a reserve for the National League on Tuesday, coming in behind Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith in the fan voting. He only managed to beat out New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez for third place by 455 votes.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Diaz entered Tuesday with plus-6500 odds to win MVP. That was tied with three other players for the steepest odds in the 41-player field.

Diaz was the Rockies' lone All-Star this season. Heading into the break, the catcher had nine home runs, 15 doubles and 45 RBI while boasting a .277 batting average and .763 OPS.

Diaz and the Rockies have another two days off for the All-Star break. The team will return to regular season play Friday at home versus the New York Yankees, with first pitch scheduled for 8:40 p.m. ET.

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