For the better part of the offseason, the New York Mets put together a World Series-contending roster with some big-ticket free-agent signings. The Mets rewarded Edwin Diaz handsomely with the richest contract for a relief pitcher in the sport’s history after the Puerto Rico native won the National League’s Reliever of the Year in 2022. Diaz put together a terrific season, in which he compiled a 1.31 ERA and struck out 50.3% of the batters he faced last season.
In 2023, Diaz was supposed to be a key component for a Mets team with World Series aspirations. Unfortunately for the Mets and Diaz, one of the game’s best closers will be sidelined for the foreseeable future and likely the entire season after suffering an injury during Wednesday’s World Baseball Classic.
The team announced on Thursday afternoon that Diaz underwent imaging that revealed a full-thickness tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee. Speaking with reporters, the club’s general manager, Billy Eppler, confirmed that Diaz would undergo surgery on his injured right leg this afternoon.
Just a mere seconds after Puerto Rico defeated the Dominican Republic in the final game of Pool play to advance to the WBC quarterfinals, Diaz was on the ground withering in pain. Trainers rushed over to help Diaz off the field, as he put no weight on his right leg, and was eventually placed in a wheelchair.
Eppler said that a general timeline to return after a patellar tendon injury is usually about eight months, according to Newsday’s Tim Healey. In quick cases, it can take six months, but the Mets’ GM was adamant that the team won’t update Diaz’s timeline for a while.
Shortly after the announcement of Diaz’s injury surfaced, Mets owner Steve Cohen took to Twitter to react to the news.
“Edwin Diaz is a great human being and a fierce competitor,” wrote Cohen. “All of us at the Mets are shaken but determined to sustain our quest for a great season. We wish Edwin a speedy recovery.”
Needless to say, not every Mets fan or those associated with the baseball world had the same reaction as Cohen.
Sigh. https://t.co/kPjHgQO3Zw
— Tim Carney (@TPCarney) March 16, 2023
Praying for my guy man!!! This hurts!! Get healthy soon @SugarDiaz39
https://t.co/CgRRL8qt4r pic.twitter.com/9MJbPUS044 — Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 16, 2023
This team man… https://t.co/Ub2pPfISJm
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 16, 2023
I'm gutted for Edwin Díaz and the Mets, just brutal news… https://t.co/CZuSctK7VL
— Thomas Hall (@Hall_Thomas_) March 16, 2023
Just Brutal https://t.co/kRDM2EoHvv
— Moose™ (@MarcMalusis) March 16, 2023
[Tim Healey on Twitter]