New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz suffered a right knee injury during Puerto Rico’s post-win celebration at the World Baseball Classic. The injury occurred after their victory against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, which secured their place in the quarterfinals.
Injury Details and Updates
During the celebration, Díaz had to be helped off the field, unable to put much weight on his right leg. The Mets announced that Díaz sustained a right knee injury and would undergo further imaging on Thursday, with an update to follow.
The exact cause of Díaz’s injury remains unclear, but footage of the incident shows the moment it happened. His brother, Alexis Díaz, a fellow pitcher for the Reds and Puerto Rico teammate, was visibly emotional after the injury occurred.
Edwin Díaz’s Recent Performance
Díaz, who will turn 29 on March 22, signed a five-year contract worth $102 million with the Mets last offseason. He is coming off an impressive season, with a 1.31 ERA (297 ERA+), a 6.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 62 innings, and 32 saves in 61 appearances.
Insurance and Previous Injuries in the WBC
Major League Baseball players participating in the World Baseball Classic are required to have insurance. In some cases, the inability to secure insurance has led players to withdraw from the tournament. For example, Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly withdrew earlier this spring due to this issue.
Díaz’s injury is not the first to occur during the WBC. Drew Smyly, for instance, missed the entire 2017 season and most of 2018 after suffering an injury while playing for Team USA. However, participation in the WBC has not been proven to increase the risk of injury for players.
Potential Impact on the Mets
If Díaz’s injury forces him to miss the beginning of the season, the Mets may have to adopt a committee approach for the ninth inning, with a rotating group of pitchers. The team retained Adam Ottavino and added David Robertson during the offseason, and also acquired Brooks Raley, though he is currently dealing with his own injury issues.
