Mets Closer Edwin Diaz To Miss 2023 Season After Tearing Patellar Tendon During WBC Celebration

Puerto Rico’s jubilation after defeating the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night to progress to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals resulted in Mets closer Edwin Diaz tearing his right patellar tendon. Diaz was scheduled to have surgery on Thursday, and the recovery period for this kind of damage is around eight months.

Mets Closer Edwin Diaz To Miss 2023 Season After Tearing Patellar Tendon During WBC Celebration

It would likely result in Diaz missing the whole 2023 season after inking a five-year, $102 million deal with the Mets this offseason. Billy Eppler, general manager of the Mets, said that although some sportsmen have recovered from such surgery in less than six months, they are the exception and did not provide a specific time frame.

The All-Star performance of 28-year-old Diaz, which featured 32 saves, a 1.31 ERA, and 118 strikeouts in 62 innings, was his finest in the Majors. This spring, the Mets’ relievers have struggled, with Diaz’s injury garnering the most attention. Brooks Raley recently sustained a hamstring strain, Bryce Montes de Oca recently experienced an elbow stress response, and Sam Coonrod recently experienced a lat strain.

Adam Ottavino and David Robertson, as well as an outside alternative, are the Mets’ additional choices with experience as closers. Zack Britton, a left-handed pitcher with previous experience under manager Buck Showalter, is still up for grabs. Robertson saved more than 30 games for the Yankees three years in a row.

The Mets closer left the mound and made his way towards home plate while cheering after getting Teoscar Hernández to pop out to conclude Puerto Rico’s 5-2 victory over the D.R. From the dugout, his people poured out, hugging him and jumping about.

[Source] “That could happen to anybody at any time. I don’t try to place blame on the WBC, that’s just a freak accident.”

Mookie Betts and Mike Trout on Edwin Díaz’s injury and their feelings on the World Baseball Classic:

A little while later, the throng dispersed while Diaz sat on the ground with his right leg outstretched, waving for help towards the dugout. Players from both sides saw the interruption of the celebration with alarm.

Diaz was ultimately assisted off the pitch, placed in a wheelchair, and moved down a walkway underneath the seats. His brother, Reds relief pitcher Alexis, could be seen crying, his arm around one of his teammates.

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