Laz Diaz

63 – Laz Díaz
Díaz in 2011
Born	(1963-03-29) March 29, 1963 (age 54) Miami, Florida
MLB debut	June 23, 1995
Umpiring crew
13
Crew members
Jeff Nelson (crew chief) Laz Díaz Doug Eddings Cory Blaser
Career highlights and awards
Special Assignments World Series (2007) League Championship Series (2009, 2015, 2016) Division Series (2002, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014) All-Star Games (2000, 2010) World Baseball Classic (2009)

Lazaro Antonio Díaz Sr. (born March 29, 1963) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He joined the American League's full-time staff in 1999, and has worked in both major leagues since 2000.

His professional umpiring career began after he attended the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School in 1991. He worked his way up to the International League for the 1995 season. Díaz was one of the 22 umpires promoted to the major leagues in the wake of the Major League Umpires Association's mass-resignation strategy in July 1999. Prior to his professional umpiring career, he served in the Marine Corps Reserves. Díaz's hand-to-hand combat skills were displayed on the baseball diamond when he was attacked by an intoxicated fan while umpiring first base in a game at Comiskey Park in April 2003. The fan, Eric Dybas, a self-described Cubs fan, had attended a game at Wrigley Field earlier in the day and had been drinking all day. Laz easily stifled the attack, and the fan (Eric Dybas) was later sentenced to up to 180 days in jail and one month of probation for aggravated battery.

Díaz was the second base umpire when Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's career home run record. On July 23, 2009, Díaz was the third base umpire for Mark Buehrle's perfect game.

He has worked the World Series in 2007, the American League Championship Series in 2009, 2015, and 2016, and the Division Series in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2013, and 2014. He also umpired the All-Star Game in 2000 and 2010.