Jacob Tanner Diekman was born on January 21,1987, and is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,530 |
27 Facts About Jake Diekman
2.
Jake Diekman has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Boston Red Sox.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,531 |
3.
Jake Diekman was born to Paul and Billie Jake Diekman, in 1987.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,532 |
4.
Jake Diekman then transferred to Cloud County Community College, in Kansas.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,533 |
5.
Jake Diekman received an offer for a full scholarship to be a Nebraska Cornhusker, which he would have accepted, had the Phillies not drafted him in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft's 30th round.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,534 |
6.
Jake Diekman converted from a starting pitcher to a reliever in 2009, along with several other Phillies pitching prospects.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,535 |
7.
Jake Diekman finished the year an established lefty specialist, and had a 3.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,536 |
8.
Jake Diekman improved his control, which made him a presumptive member of the 2014 bullpen, as he was one of 2013's "lone bright spots" for the otherwise dismal Phillies' bullpen.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,537 |
9.
Early in the season, Jake Diekman emerged as a reliable reliever in the Phillies' bullpen, and was used extensively by manager Ryne Sandberg.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,538 |
10.
Jake Diekman became an important bullpen piece in the Rangers' run to the playoffs in 2016.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,539 |
11.
Jake Diekman only made 11 appearances towards the end of the season.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,540 |
13.
Jake Diekman struggled after being acquired by Arizona, posting an ERA of 7.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,542 |
14.
On February 13,2019, Jake Diekman signed a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2020 with the Kansas City Royals.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,543 |
15.
Jake Diekman thus accomplished the rare feat of having pitched for two different teams on the same day, statistically.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,544 |
16.
Jake Diekman became a free agent following the 2019 season after the Athletics declined his contract option.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,545 |
17.
On March 16,2022, Jake Diekman signed a two-year contract with a club option for 2024 with the Boston Red Sox.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,546 |
18.
Jake Diekman's fastball is among the fastest of left-handed relievers in the major leagues.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,547 |
19.
In 2020, Jake Diekman credited Rob Friedman with helping improve his slider grip through Twitter, increasing the horizontal break on his slider substantially.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,548 |
20.
Jake Diekman's mother died at age 57 just months before the Phillies drafted him.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,549 |
21.
Jake Diekman describes his father as his "best friend", and one who has helped him cope with his mother's death.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,550 |
22.
Jake Diekman has sought therapy to cope with the loss of his mother, and meditates and thinks about her during "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to each game.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,551 |
23.
Jake Diekman invoked his mother's spirit rather than avoiding it.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,552 |
24.
Away from baseball, Jake Diekman holds an associate's degree in business administration from Cloud County Community College.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,553 |
25.
Jake Diekman enjoys listening to music, working out, playing golf, and long walks on the beach.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,554 |
26.
Jake Diekman's father-in-law Saul Soltero was a pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization, posting a 2.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,555 |
27.
Jake Diekman reached as high as the Double-A level before an elbow injury resulting in Tommy John surgery sidetracked his career.
| FactSnippet No. 2,299,556 |