Braves 2009 Season in Review: Matt Diaz

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP Browse more photos » I think we can officially call the 2009 season of Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz a "breakout season." For all NL right-fielders with at least 100 plate appearances, Matt Diaz led the league in batting average and on-base percentage. He was behind six other players in slugging percentage in the NL, but he was behind only Adam LaRoche and David Ross in slugging percentage on the Braves. Diaz had a higher slugging average than sluggers like Hunter Pence, Jay Bruce, and Ryan Ludwick. While he only hit 13 homeruns, he did that in just 125 games at a rate of 3.1 percent. That rate is second on the Braves to only Brian McCann, and is the same rate that Diaz posted in 2007 when he put up very similar numbers to last year (which begs the question, wasn't that the "breakout season?"). His 2008 season and the dips in every category can be attributed to the knee injury he suffered and some bad ...