By Wade Hilligoss

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With Luis Martinez filling a catching void in the big leagues, the Express were left with just Elio Sarmiento behind the dish while on the current eight-game road trip. Enter Robbie Diaz. The Rangers signed the 28-year-old and assigned him to the E-Train to give the top of the system some catching depth. Here’s the skinny on Diaz:

2012: The 28-year-old was signed to a minor league deal Aug. 11 … second stint with the Rangers … hit .285 with four home runs and 31 RBI in 46 games with Salt Lake (AAA) in the Los Angeles Angels organization … released by Angels Aug. 7.

CAREER: Signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an undrafted free agent on Nov. 19, 2000 … MLB debut April 23, 2008, with Toronto against Tampa Bay Rays … Traded Aug. 25, 2008 to Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Jose Bautista … played 31 games in the Major Leagues with Pittsburgh in 2009 season … spent 2010 in the Detroit Tigers organization with the Toledo Mud Hens … signed minor league deal with Rangers in 2011 … appreared in 55 games between Frisco (AA) and Round Rock (AAA) in 2011 … signed minor league deal with Los Angeles (AL) and was assigned to Salt Lake (AAA) where he hit .285 with four home runs and 31 RBI in 46 games … released by Angels Aug. 7.

2011: Assigned to Frisco (AA) to begin the season … shuttled between Frisco and Round Rock as extra catcher during the season … promoted twice, demoted three times … hit .357 with three home runs and eight RBI in 17 games with the RoughRiders … .hit .303 with four home runs and 14 RBI with the Express … collected at least one hit in 25 of 35 games with the Express … 13 multiple-hit games … hit safely in nine of 14 games with at least one plate appearance at The Dell Diamond … hit .333 (18-for-54) at The Dell Diamond … each of first 16 hits with Express were singles … hit .308 (16-for-52) when designated hitter; .295 (26-for-88) when catching … hit .338 (25-for-74) with the bases empty.

NOTABLE: Robinzon Diaz Henriquez … 2003 Appalachian League All-Star … 2004 South Atlantic League All-Star … Florida State League All-Star C in 2005 and 2006 … Traded Aug. 25, 2008 to Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Jose Bautista.