Debate Rages over World Baseball Classic Amid Edwin Diaz Injury
Edwin Diaz’s season is over. The New York Mets All-Star closer was lost for the season after tearing the Patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory…
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 15: Edwin Diaz #39 of Team Puerto Rico celebrates a 5-2 win against Team Dominican Republic during their World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Edwin Diaz's season is over.
The New York Mets All-Star closer was lost for the season after tearing the Patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic in Miami. Diaz had to be helped off the field, and needed a wheelchair to get off the field to the clubhouse and the examination room.
The only good news for New York is the revelation Friday that the Mets will be reimbursed for losing Diaz for the year. Major League Baseball has an insurance policy in place that protects teams against injury during the World Baseball Classic. According to SNY and the New York Post, the Mets would be covered for $18.64 million.
Still the debate rages on whether the World Baseball Classic should be moved to another part of the calendar, perhaps November, if not stopped altogether. Anti-WBC thought has been that players can't ramp to a postseason level in the month of March when the focus should be on the season.
WBC enthusiasts point that the Classic is not to blame for the injury and that players want to play in it so they can get the rare opportunity to represent their country, since baseball doesn't have a home in the Olympics.
