The New York Mets might have to play without Edwin Diaz, their star closer, for the entire 2023 season
Diaz sustained an injury during Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night.
Diaz’s teammate and fellow Puerto Rican, Francisco Lindor, expressed his regret about the injury and thanked the fans for their concern.
Lindor understands how Mets fans feel, but he also stated that participating in the WBC is as crucial to them as the regular season.
Diaz, who signed a five-year, $102 million extension at the end of last season, tore his right patellar tendon, which could keep him out of the game for eight months.
The Mets will undoubtedly be affected by Diaz’s absence, as he had a stellar performance last season with 32 saves, a 1.31 ERA, and 118 strikeouts in just 62 innings pitched.
Although some may criticize the WBC, players such as Lindor regard representing their country as the ultimate honour.
Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic puts them in the quarterfinals of the tournament for the third time in a row, with a chance to advance to the championship.
Alex Claudio, a former Met who now plays for the Milwaukee Brewers, will replace Diaz for the rest of the WBC.
Puerto Rico will face Mexico on Friday, March 17, in the quarterfinals, with former Met and current Chicago Cub Marcus Stroman taking the mound for Puerto Rico against Los Angeles Dodgers’ lefty Julio Urias of Mexico.
The winner of the match will compete against Japan in the semifinals.
»The Impact of Edwin Diaz’s Injury on the New York Mets and Their 2023 Season«
↯↯↯Read More On The Topic On TDPel Media ↯↯↯