Mets Hit with Nightmare as Edwin Diaz Injures Knee in WBC

If ever there was an argument against the World Baseball Classic, what happened to Edwin Diaz on Wednesday night is exhibit A.

Diaz closed out Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic, and was celebrating with teammates around the pitchers mound when he collapsed and couldn’t get back up. He had to be helped off the field with a wheelchair. Further tests will be conducted on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury.

The loss of Diaz could potentially do severe damage to the Mets hopes this season. Diaz had one of the best year of his career in 2022, locking down 32 saves while pitching to a 1.31 ERA in 61 games.

There is a fear that Diaz could be out a significant amount of time, meaning the Mets — who are already saddled with injuries to their bullpen — will have to look toward either David Robertson or Adam Ottavino to close games should Diaz miss any time in the regular season.

Diaz is the latest big name MLB player to go down with an injury during the WBC. Freedie Freeman suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Team Canada, but the LA Dodgers are hopeful that Freeman won’t miss significant time.

The WBC, which has certainly had its detractors over the years, will garner more. Many have already starting harping on social media that the Mets should pull their players out of the tournament; others have called for baseball to not hold the tournament so early in the season. Even players like the Mets’ Max Scherzer and Brandon have issued their concerns about the WBC being held so early in the season.

The Yankees sent three players to the WBC this year; ironically when asked why he didn’t participate, slugger Aaron Judge said simply that he felt the Yankees would tell him not to participate.

Diaz signed a five-year $102 million deal with the Mets this past off-season.