Watch: Diaz looks as dominant as ever, strikes out Alonso in live BP

New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Edwin Diaz looks as dominant as ever, strikes out Pete Alonso in live BP

By Matthew Neschis | Last updated 2/23/24

Edwin Diaz's comeback season is off to a great start.

Nearly one year after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating in the World Baseball Classic, Diaz is back on the mound and striking out batters.

On Friday, the Mets closer faced off against several teammates in live batting practice, including Pete Alonso.

After falling behind 2-0 in the count, Diaz fooled the first baseman with two sliders before blowing a fastball by him for the strikeout and third consecutive swing and miss.

Midway through the at-bat, Alonso whiffed at a pitch and turned to the dugout, informing the upcoming batters that Diaz was the "same guy."

Pete Alonso vs. Edwin Díaz pic.twitter.com/qFkwF4tTiq
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) February 23, 2024

Pete Alonso in the middle of an at-bat against Edwin Diaz: “Same guy.” He swung and missed at the last three pitches. pic.twitter.com/WBAJsk9hJL
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) February 23, 2024

Before suffering the season-ending knee injury last March, Diaz cemented himself as one of the best relievers in the MLB.

The hard-throwing righty was named the 2022 National League Reliever of the Year after he amassed 32 saves and 118 strikeouts with a 1.31 ERA over 62 innings pitched. He previously won the AL version of the award while playing for the Seattle Mariners in 2018.

Despite proving that he could thrive as a pitcher in New York, some around the league questioned if Diaz could replicate his past success now coming off a serious injury. The 29-year-old dropped 29 places on MLB.com's list of the top 100 players, falling from No. 51 down to No. 80.

The Mets additionally are playing it safe with Diaz in the early stages of his recovery process. According to manager Carlos Mendoza, the team's coaching and training staff are making sure he doesn't pitch at 100 percent effort after missing so much time.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says the coaching and training staff have been conscious of telling Edwin Diaz to pull it back a bit at this point in the calendar after missing a full season
— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) February 21, 2024

Diaz, however, looks like he hasn't missed a beat. And when it comes to facing Mets batters in spring training, he's not taking it easy on his teammates.

"I know my teammates want to get a hit off of me because they want to talk in the clubhouse," Diaz joked. "I just want to get them out. As soon as I step on the mound, they are my enemies."

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