Get To Know Derek Diamond: Talks Injuries, AFL, & Future Role with the Pirates

We’re joined by Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Derek Diamond as he hits the road for his second stint in the Arizona Fall League. Derek opens up about his 2025 season, including the challenges of missing time with injury, his return to Altoona for a playoff push, and the adrenaline of being back on the mound. He talks about the transition from starter to bullpen, how he’s building his pitch arsenal around a much-improved fastball, and why his changeup has become a true out pitch. We also dive into his AFL experiences—what it’s like facing top prospects, learning a new role, and even starting the Fall League All-Star Game. Plus, Derek shares off-day favorites in Arizona, his love of golf, his offseason training goals, and a little Ole Miss vs. Georgia football trash talk. This is a fun and insightful conversation with one of the Pirates’ most intriguing arms—don’t miss it! 👉 Watch the full interview and subscribe for more Pirates prospect coverage. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ZY250XUYiS-yX7xOQCdLA/join Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myspreadshop.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m ►BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northshorenine.bsky.social Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.