MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 15: Edwin Diaz #39 of Puerto Rico is helped off the field after being injured during the on-field celebration after defeating the Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic Pool D at loanDepot park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz will undergo surgery after injuring his knee at the World Baseball Classic.
Edwin Diaz is arguably the best closer in all of baseball when healthy. Sadly, it’s his health that is now in question.
Diaz hurt his right knee while celebrating the final out — which he recorded — for Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic. The celebration wasn’t all that unusual, with the group huddled up and jumping around the mound.
It was enough to cause injury to Diaz, who will now miss the entire season.
The Mets were right to fear the worst with Diaz, who needed a wheelchair to get to the clubhouse.
Edwin Diaz injury: NY Mets closer out for season
FanSided’s Kevin Henry discussed how Diaz’s injury could impact the World Baseball Classic moving forward:
“MLB wants the World Baseball Classic to work, and so do the passionate fans from throughout the world who have traveled to stadiums to cheer on the players representing their home countries. For those reasons, the WBC will march on into the future. It just may look different in those future iterations. Will there be as many stars headlining the event as there are this year? The Los Angeles Angels are rolling the dice with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani playing, just as much as the St. Louis Cardinals are with Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and Adam Wainwright. Will those types of big names be in the mix when the WBC returns in 2026? Right now, in the wake of Diaz crumpling to the ground, it feels like the answer would be no.”
Diaz’s injury made for a tragic scene after Puerto Rico’s win. His brother, Alexis Diaz, was thrilled to finally get a chance to play with his brother at the WBC. Sadly, Edwin’s tournament ended early during the chaos of PR’s celebration.