Mets' Edwin Diaz offers positive update for potential 2023 return

New York Mets All-Star closer Edwin Diaz refuses to slam the door shut on possibly returning to the bump later this year following his devastating knee injury. 

"If everything goes well, I think I can be back sooner than eight months," Diaz told reporters on Wednesday ahead of the Mets' afternoon home game against the San Diego Padres, per Danny Abriano of SNY. "They want me to get better first and then they’ll see how I’m responding and my strength and all these things that I have to do, and then start throwing. If the tests come back good, I might throw this year. I’m feeling great. We are working hard to see if I can come back as soon as possible, but everything is going in the right direction right now with the team, and the doctors say I’m doing great, so I’m really happy." 

Diaz shockingly suffered a right patellar tendon tear while he was celebrating a win over the Dominican Republic with Puerto Rico teammates during the World Baseball Classic last month. 

It was initially reported he would miss roughly eight months of action after surgery and, thus, not pitch again for the Mets before 2024, but Will Sammon of The Athletic noted on March 17 that "a person close to" Diaz said at that time "there is some optimism" the 2022 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award winner could possibly help the Mets either late in the regular season or during the playoffs.

Without Diaz, the Mets began the season at an underwhelming 6-6. Heading into Wednesday afternoon, New York trailed the first-place Atlanta Braves by two games in the NL East standings. 

Diaz's setback sparked fresh debates and plenty of hot takes about if superstar players on monster contracts should participate in the WBC weeks before the start of a grueling MLB season. Diaz indicated on Wednesday he would again represent Puerto Rico in the 2026 edition of the international competition if asked. 

"People can get hurt in their home, any place," Diaz added during his comments. "It happened to me in the WBC, that’s part of the game. I wasn’t pitching, I was celebrating with my teammates. So, if I had the chance to play again for my country, yeah, I would do it. ... I just was celebrating with my teammates and no one hit me, no one nothing. I just fell down."