Diamond Out to Prove He’s a Cut Above

It wasn't that long ago that Thomas Diamond was on the fast track to the big leagues. Selected in first round (10th overall) in 2004 by the Texas Rangers, he was given a $2.025 million bonus following a dominant junior season at the University of New Orleans in which he compiled a 2.38 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 113.2 innings. He reached AA in his first full professional season, going 13-4 with a 3.53 ERA while recording 10.1 K/9, and even appearing in the 2005 Futures Game. As such, he was anointed the top pitching prospect in the Rangers organization by Baseball America.