Edwin Diaz Knee Injury Could Take Longer Than This Season to Recover
Edwin Diaz Knee Injury Could Take Longer Than This Season to Recover. To know more, read more …
‘It’s too hazardous,’ Mets closer Edwin Diaz said of pitching for the Mets in 2023.
When New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz damaged his knee during the World Baseball Classic, there was a remote possibility he’d be able to return for the rest of the season and possibly even into the postseason.
But, six months after Diaz tore his patellar tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico’s World Baseball Classic victory, the Mets don’t think it’s worth it to get Diaz back on the mound.
“It’s too risky,” remarked Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, according to MLB.com. “I’m not as worried about pitching.” It’s more about fielding and getting out of the way of a ball being hit back at him, and it’s more about covering first base and covering a bunt. At the moment, I’m not worried about him pitching.”
The elephant in the room is that the Mets have been terrible this season, which most certainly influenced their decision to keep Diaz off the mound. It’s hazardous to have him pitch again because the Mets have nothing to play for.
They trail the first-place Atlanta Braves by 26 games in the National League East and are eight games out of the third wild-card slot. And, with a record of 70-80, they aren’t even awful enough to land one of the top five picks in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Diaz would almost certainly be pitching right now if the Mets were competing, according to Hefner.
“If we were in a different situation as a team, we could have definitely pushed him to the point where he’d probably be pitching in games right now,” Hefner said.
“As you can see, he’s an important part of our team this year.” We can’t put next year’s season at jeopardy by reinjuring an already rare injury. That is where we are right now.”
The Mets have a lot to do this offseason after pouring baseball’s greatest payroll (nearly $360 million) down the toilet. But, with Diaz having practically a full year to recover and rehab his knee, they won’t have to worry about a closer in 2024.
