New York Mets’ Edwin Diaz Has Surgery For Torn Knee Tendon Suffered In World Baseball Classic Victory Celebration

New York Mets right handed reliever Edwin Diaz, 28, is one of the best closers in Major League Baseball.

Pitching for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic March 15, Diaz closed out a tremendously meaningful victory over the Dominican Republic.

Diaz struck out Seattle Mariners outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to end the game.

Ready to celebrate their monumental victory, Diaz’ Puerto Rican teammates ran out of their dugout and stormed the area near the mound.

Then Diaz went down to the ground, clutching his knee.

His teammates lifted Diaz from the ground and placed him on a wheelchair to be taken from the field in pain.

It has been disclosed that Diaz suffered a tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee.

Diaz required surgery to repair the tendon, with a recovery time estimated to be “around” eight months. The team has not indicated a specific timetable for recovery.

If Diaz requires a full eight months for recovery/rehabilitation, he will miss the entire 2023 season. It would be amazing if he returns to pitch in the coming MLB campaign.

World Baseball Classic Risk/Reward Issues:

Players, coaches, managers, front office personnel, and owners have difficult decisions to make regarding players participating in the World Baseball Classic.

Those of us like this writer, who have never played with the name of our country on the front of a uniform, do not know what it means to represent one’s homeland on a world stage.

Those players given the opportunity to play in a world-wide tournament in behalf of their country must have to fight hard to resist the honor and glory. How does one say no when asked to play for one’s homeland?

How does an individual responsible for the good and welfare of a major league organization deny a player the chance to represent his country in the World Baseball Classic?

That can’t be easy.

Players know the risk of injury in the World Baseball Classic.

Managers, coaches, front office executives and owners know the risks of injury in the World Baseball Classic.

While the rewards are real, exciting, and intoxicating, they may be fleeting.

The “W” in the World Baseball Classic will be remembered in history. And that’s a good thing.

But an injury, any injury, in a game that is not the means of a player’s future earnings and livelihood, could end the player’s career.

And yet, some of the biggest, brightest, most meaningful stars in the Major League Galaxy are performing in the World Baseball Classic.

Mike Trout

Manny Machado

Juan Soto

Mookie Betts

Shohei Ohtani

Trea Turner

Francisco Lindor

Paul Goldschmidt

Bobby Witt Jr.

Kyle Tucker

Nolan Arenado

Rafael Devers

Julio Rodriguez

And on and on. The names just sparkle.

Playing for Team Canada, Los Angeles Dodgers All Star Freddie Freeman tweaked his hamstring during the Classic. He had to miss a crucial game for Team Canada. His injury is not expected to be serious.

What Now For The Mets?

Edwin Diaz was a 3rd round selection of the Seattle Mariners in the 2012 draft.

Chosen out of Caguas Military Academy in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Diaz made his big league debut with the Mariners in June 2016. He threw in his first big league game at the age of 22.

The Mariners traded Diaz to the New York Mets in a highly publicized, highly controversial deal on December 3, 2018. The trade sent Diaz and second baseman Robinson Cano to the Mets for five players; including pitchers Gerson Bautista, Justin Dunn, Anthony Swarzak, and outfielders Jay Bruce and Jarred Kelenic.

Diaz made the American League All Star Team for Seattle in 2018, the year he was traded to the Mets. He saved an amazing 57 games for Seattle, and threw to a minuscule 1.96 ERA.

Mariners fans could not understand how their team could have traded Diaz? Good question.

After some inconsistency pitching in the National League with the Mets, Diaz really sparkled last season. He made the National League All Star Team, and saved 32 games. Diaz pitched to a fantastic 1.31 ERA with a 0.83 WHIP. He was regarded as the best closer in the National League.

Diaz and Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase were widely believed to be the best two closers entering the 2023 MLB season.

Diaz is working on a five-year contract he recently signed that pays $102 million.

Now Diaz will be recovering from surgery after tearing his patellar tendon in a World Baseball Classic victory celebration.

Who Closes For the Mets?

The Mets do not have a clone of Edwin Diaz on their pitching staff.

Edwin Diaz throws a tremendous fastball/slider combination that buckles knees, destroys the balance of the hitter, and induces swings and misses.

Diaz throws his fastball at 98 miles per hour. His slider sits at 89 miles per hour.

Last year, Diaz struck out an average of 17.1 hitters per nine innings. He walked 2.6 hitters per nine. He had increased his strikeouts, and decreased his walks.

Last year, Diaz yielded three home runs in his 62 innings pitched, covering 61 games.

The Mets will find a pitcher or pitchers to work high-leverage, late innings.

The Mets may turn to veteran right-hander David Robertson, who is closer to 38 than 37.

Or, the Mets can turn to Adam Ottavino, another seasoned veteran. Ottavino is closer to 35 than 34.

Both are viable options. They may split the work.

Or, the Mets may look to trade for a closer type pitcher.

Maybe the Kansas City Royals are willing to trade veteran closer Aroldis Chapman, who is looking good in Royals camp. He may be able to use his own fastball/slider combination in late innings, if not at the end of the game.

Of course, names will surface. That’s only natural.

However the important fact is that the New York Mets, who have been spending money and working to create a team worthy of World Series contention, must now enter the season with perhaps the game’s best closer helplessly watching while he rehabilitates from a serious knee injury.

In the case of Edwin Diaz, the reward of the Puerto Rican WBC victory over rival Dominican Republic was sweet. Very sweet.

But the celebration of victory also uncovered the massive risk.

Here’s hoping Edwin Diaz will return to the game of baseball and regain his great form after he recovers from his likely season ending surgery.