FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
September 10, 2007 815-774-2881

ONE MORE AWARD FOR “BIG PAPPA”

JackHammers Slugger Named to the Northern League Post-Season All-Star Team

JOLIET, IL-The accolades continue for Joliet JackHammers designated hitter Juan Diaz, as he becomes the sole JackHammers representative on the Northern League Post Season All-Star team. Diaz led the Northern League in home runs (28), slugging percentage (.632) and total bases (405) in 2007. The Hialeah Gardens, Florida resident also finished second in the Northern League with a .358 batting average and sixth with 80 RBI in playing in all 96 games for the JackHammers. Northern League field managers, radio announcers and newspaper “beat writers” voted on the All-Star team.

Diaz played two-thirds of the season as the JackHammers designated hitter while spending the other 28 games at first base. Diaz, who hit his 200^th minor league career home run on August 29, hit home runs in 26 games. He racked up an amazing 137 hits in 2007.

Loose Gravel: Diaz had previously won three Northern League “Player of the Week” honors during the 2007 season. Diaz received the awards for the weeks ending on June 17, July 8 and September 2.

Diaz has played in professional baseball ever since 1996 season when he was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Diaz spent four games with the Boston Red Sox in the 2002 season and went 2-6 in his Major League Baseball Career. 2007 was his first season spent in independent baseball after a career spent in the Dodgers, Red Sox, Orioles and Cardinals organizations.

###