Star reliever Edwin Díaz was carted off the field after Wednesday night’s World Baseball Classic contest. The Mets closer threw a perfect inning to save Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic and apparently injured his right leg while the team celebrated its victory on the mound.
Díaz was helped off the field by trainers without putting weight on his right leg. He was helped into a wheelchair and taken off the field in a surreal scene, one that turned from jubilation for the Puerto Rican players and fan base into dismay. Players from both teams were visibly distraught by the injury, with Díaz’s younger brother Alexis Díaz breaking down in tears as Edwin was taken off the field.
Obviously, it’s far too soon to know the extent of the injury. Marly Rivera of ESPN reports that Díaz is being evaluated by an on-site orthopedic specialist. There’ll surely be updates on his condition in the coming days.
A serious injury to Díaz would be a massive blow for the Mets. The 28-year-old righty is the sport’s best reliever. He’s coming off one of the greatest relief seasons in recent memory, throwing 62 innings of 1.31 ERA ball while striking out more than half his opponents. The Mets retained him this offseason on a five-year, $102M contract days before the start of free agency. That marked the largest commitment to a relief pitcher in MLB history.
More must-reads: