Royals Sign Nebraska Native Jake Diekman

The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday they have signed left-handed reliever Jake Diekman , a native of Wymore, Nebraska, to a one-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Wymore, Nebraska is approximately 100 miles southwest and an hour and a half drive from the Storm Chasers' home ballpark of Werner Park in Papillion. Diekman is a graduate of Wymore Southern High School and went to school at Doane College before being selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 30th round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of Cloud County Community College in Kansas.
Diekman split the 2018 campaign between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks, combinining for a 1-2 record and 4.73 ERA (28 ER/53.1 IP) in 71 appearances, adding 66 strikeouts. He pitched in 47 games for the Rangers before being acquired by the Diamondbacks in a July 31 deal in exchange for RHP Wei-Chieh Huang and a player to be named later. He joined the Rangers organization in a July 31, 2015 trade along with LHP Cole Hamels in exchange for LHP Matt Harrison , C Jorge Alfaro , RHP Jerad Eickhoff , OF Nick Williams , RHP Alec Asher and RHP Jake Thompson .
The 32-year-old in seven Major League seasons has compiled a 14-15 mark and 3.75 ERA (130 ER/312.0 IP) along with seven saves and 383 punchouts in 365 career appearances. Diekman made his Major League debut with the Phillies on May 15, 2012. In 2017 he earned the Hutch Award, given annually to an active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desite of Fred Hutchinson.
Diekman has never pitched professionally in his native Nebraska, and could possibly do so when the Royals face the Storm Chasers in the Royals Exhibition Game presented by Cobalt Credit Union on March 25 at 6:05pm CT. McDonald's Berm tickets for that contest are still avialable and can be purchased by clicking here.