Diamond starred at the University of New Orleans. As a junior, he went 6-4, 2.38 ERA (30 ER/113.2 IP) in 17 starts for the Privateers, and was voted the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year. Diamond registered 4 double-digit strikeout games, including 17 strikeouts in a complete game win over Arkansas State University on March 26;he tied a school and Sun Belt Conference record with those 17 Ks. He was selected in the first round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers at # 10 overall.\n', '

Diamond quickly rose through the Rangers system, dominating the competition for Spokane in the Northwest League and Clinton in the Midwest League in 2004. In the fall of 2004, Diamond made a name for himself in an obscure Instructional League game during which he tripped and fell on the mound while attempting a pickoff move. The opposing Oakland A\'s prospects laughed at Diamond, who then walked off the mound towards the A\'s dugout and told them that the next person to laugh was going to be wearing a fastball in the temple. Diamond then threw his next pitch three feet behind the hitter at the plate and then delivered nine consecutive strikes to punch out the side.\n', '

In 2005, Diamond was named the Texas Rangers Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year in his first full professional season, splitting the campaign between Single-A Advanced Bakersfield in the California League and Frisco in the Double-A Texas League, combining to go 13-4 with a 3.53 ERA (59 ER/150.1 IP) and 169 strikeouts in 28 starts. He was ranked by Baseball America as the 3rd-best prospect in the Rangers system and the 4th-best prospect in the Texas League.\n', '

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