Pirates' Diaz felt 'overwhelming' joy after mother's rescue

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz came to spring training only days after his mother was rescued from kidnappers in his native Venezuela.

Speaking with reporters, the 27-year-old Diaz said his mother, Ana Isabel Soto, is doing much better and that he felt incredible joy when he received news of her rescue.

"When I did find out the news that we found my mom, I can tell you the joy I felt was overwhelming. I've never felt that caliber of joy that I felt the moment I received the news that my mom was coming back home," Diaz told MLB.com's Adam Berry.

Soto was taken on Feb. 8 and retrieved three days later. Diaz later learned that a family friend was involved in the kidnapping.

"It kind of removes the trust - the trust of your roots," he said. "It makes you want to detach from your roots and maybe even question, 'Do I want to go back? Do I want to remain there?' You kind of lose the trust, and it makes you more aware of your surroundings. It's kind of sad. It's a very tough situation to deal with."

With the distress of her kidnapping behind him, Diaz is ready and pumped up to get the baseball season going.

"Without a doubt. I feel like a brand new man," Diaz said. "I feel like my mom was reborn and I was reborn as well. I'm more than excited, just motivated to get back on the field and do everything I can to help my team out and get ready for the season."

The Pirates play their first spring training game on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays, and Diaz is expected to break camp as the team's backup catcher behind Francisco Cervelli.