Binghamton University Athletics

A native of Guelph, Ontario, Scott Diamond played baseball at Binghamton from 2005-07. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering in 2011.

After spending three noteworthy seasons as a Bearcat, Diamond began his pro career and reached the pinnacle of the sport when he made his Major League Baseball debut with the Minnesota Twins on July 18, 2011. In the process, he became the first BU baseball player to reach the highest level of the professional ranks.

Diamond honed his skills at Binghamton, where he made 37 starts in three seasons, earning America East Rookie of the Year honors in 2005. With the left-handed ace in the rotation, BU began its ascent to the top of the conference and in 2007, the Bearcats went 17-5 in league play to capture the program’s first-ever regular season title. In his final collegiate outing, Diamond shut down Maine in an America East championship elimination game.

He signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves in August 2007 and began his pro career at Class A Rome in March 2008. He advanced to the Braves’ Triple-A level before being selected by Minnesota in the 2010 Rule 5 Draft.

In his MLB debut in front of nearly 40,000 home fans at Target Field, Diamond went 6.1 innings and allowed just three earned runs. One month later, he was brought back up to Minnesota and earned his first Major League victory on August 31 at Chicago. Diamond struck out five and allowed just three hits in 6.0 innings. He made seven starts for the Twins in 2011.

In 2012, Diamond enjoyed a breakout season that featured 12 wins and numerous accolades. He was selected as both the Twins’ Pitcher of the Year and the club’s Most Outstanding Rookie. He ranked third among all rookies in ERA (3.54), fourth in win percentage and fifth in wins. He ranked 12th in the American League in WHIP and 13th in ERA.

Diamond produced his first career shutout and complete game — a three-hitter against Cleveland on July 27 — and was one of just two rookies to toss a shutout in 2012. In all, he made 27 starts in 2012 and took 18 career MLB wins into the 2013 campaign as a starter in the Twins’ rotation.