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Chicago Cubs Released Catcher Jairo Diaz

The Cubs parted ways with the 22-year-old catcher following an injury-plagued season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Baseball

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The Chicago Cubs released minor league catcher Jairo Diaz on Tuesday, concluding his tenure in the organization after an injury-plagued season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Chicago Cubs officially released 22-year-old catcher Jairo Diaz on Tuesday. Diaz spent his time in the organization with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Why it matters

The team's decision follows a challenging 2026 campaign for Diaz, who struggled at the plate and spent significant time on the injured list. His release marks the end of a tenure that began when he signed with the organization in 2021.

Diaz appeared in 39 games during the 2026 season, recording 104 at-bats and drawing 23 walks. He finished the year with a .192 batting average, two home runs, and 13 RBIs.

The players

Jairo Diaz

He is a 22-year-old professional baseball catcher who previously played for the Chicago Cubs minor league affiliate.

Chicago Cubs

They are a professional Major League Baseball franchise based in Chicago that competes in the National League Central division.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

They are the Single-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs based in South Carolina.

The details

After signing with the Chicago Cubs in 2021, Diaz developed within the team's minor league system while playing for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. His final season was hampered by injuries, resulting in him being placed on the injured list in July and the full-season list in August.

Timeline

  1. Jairo Diaz signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2021.

  2. Diaz played 44 games for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2025.

  3. The Cubs placed Diaz on the injured list on July 25, 2026.

  4. The team moved Diaz to the full-season injured list on August 20, 2026.

  5. The Chicago Cubs released Jairo Diaz on September 22, 2026.

Season Trajectory

The release of Diaz reflects the constant roster churn that defines the Minor League Baseball player development system. Such moves are common as organizations refine their talent pools and clear roster spots for younger prospects or incoming draft classes.

This move clears a roster spot within the Cubs' minor league system, potentially opening opportunities for other prospects in the organization. It signals the end of Diaz's path with the team, ending any projected depth contribution from the catcher for the remainder of the developmental cycle.

The takeaway

Roster management at the minor league level often prioritizes long-term development metrics over individual player tenure. Athletes looking to maintain a career must overcome performance plateaus and injury gaps to remain in the system.

Further reading

For more on the latest team updates, visit our Baseball section.

Live Poll

Do you believe minor league teams should prioritize developing young players despite poor recent performance statistics?