Yainer Díaz receives his 2023 AL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park from Latino Sports president and founder Julio Pabón - Image Credit: Houston Astros/MLB

Give it up for Houston Astros’ Yainer Díaz, the 2023 American League LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year!

Before the Angels-Astros series finale at Minute Maid Park on Sunday afternoon, Yainer Díaz officially joined the LatinoMVP Pantheon, receiving his 2023 American League LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year award from Latino Sports founder and president Julio Pabón. 

​​The LatinoMVP is the oldest and most prestigious award given to Latino MLB athletes, starting back in 1990. Over the last thirty-four (34) years, several former and active players have compared the honor to winning a Latin Grammy, while others have even called the LatinoMVP, a “Latin Grammy of Baseball.” 

Díaz, 26, of Azua, Dominican Republic was named the winner of the 2023 AL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year following a thorough voting process made by those in the Latino Sports Writers and Broadcasters Association (LSWBA) this past offseason. 

“I feel very good about it because at the beginning of the (2023) season, I didn’t have much opportunity and then I got it,” said Díaz on winning the 2023 AL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year. “It was something I didn’t think about, it was something that flowed you know, and God sent me. I feel very grateful for that, which I have in my career now.” 

On an award exclusively given to Latin MLB athletes, Díaz said: “That’s a good step you know because like that — the Latino fans are more active with us and things like that — you know, they feel good and identified with the work one does and are more alert.” 

#Astros manager Joe Espada speaks about Yainer Díaz’s career milestone of winning the 2023 American League #LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year award 🇩🇴🏆 Yainer will be presented with his rare LatinoMVP ROTY award prior to today’s Angels-Astros game in Houston ⚾️#LatinoSports | @MLB pic.twitter.com/1u9paOXqBX

— Latino Sports (@LatinoSports) September 22, 2024

Throughout his LatinoMVP rookie campaign in 104 games, the right-handed slugging catcher finished third in home runs (23) among AL rookies, fifth in RBI (60), second in batting average (.282) and third in OPS (.846) — which made him much deserving of the honor when you also factor in his contributions made to community while standing as a role model for the local youth in Houston, Texas, and even more, in his homeland of the D.R. 

LatinoMVP Royalty in H-Town: Díaz, the recipient of the 2023 AL LatinoMVP ROTY, joins Yordan Álvarez (2022 AL LatinoMVP) and José Altuve (2017 AL LatinoMVP) as the only active members of the Astros to be named a LatinoMVP award winner.

2023 LatinoMVP Award Winners

American League LatinoMVP 

Julio Rodríguez – Seattle Mariners

National League LatinoMVP 

Ronald Acuña Jr. – Atlanta Braves

American League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher 

Luis Castillo – Seattle Mariners

National League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher

Jesús Luzardo – Miami Marlins

American League LatinoMVP Reliever/Closer

Félix Bautista – Baltimore Orioles

National League LatinoMVP Reliever/Closer

Alexis Díaz – Cincinnati Reds

American League LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year

Yainer Díaz – Houston Astros 

National League LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year

Elly De La Cruz – Cincinnati Reds

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