For Edwin Diaz, Wednesday night was expected to be memorable for all the right reasons. However, the jubilation stemming from his team’s significant victory in the World Baseball Classic quickly turned into despair.
After Puerto Rico secured a 5-2 victory over the Dominican Republic, the two-time All-Star closer celebrated alongside his teammates. But the festivities took a somber turn when Francisco Lindor and Diaz’s brother, Alexis, suddenly dropped to their knees.
As he lay on the ground, Diaz’s face reflected deep anguish.
As confusion intensified among medical staff and worried teammates, Diaz attempted to leave the field but found himself unable to stand.
While the details surrounding the event remain vague, Puerto Rico’s manager, Yadier Molina, told reporters that he suspected Diaz had sustained an injury to his right knee.
“I was hugging our coaches in the dugout,” Molina recounted. “Then, when we looked up, Edwin was on the ground.”
When life throws you a curveball
The game on Wednesday was one of the most eagerly awaited events for baseball enthusiasts and analysts alike. The clash between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic presented one of the most exhilarating matchups in recent memory.
For Edwin Diaz, wearing his national colors was a source of immense pride.
This past offseason, the Puerto Rican pitcher made headlines as the highest-paid reliever after signing a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets. Still, he relished the opportunity to compete for his homeland.
“As excited as we were about the game and all that, it’s one of our brothers. Some of us grew up together,” Puerto Rican outfielder Kiké Hernandez noted. “It’s easy to set aside the game and prioritize our well-being as individuals. So it definitely doesn’t feel like we just beat the Dominican Republic to advance.”
“Besides being the best closer in the game right now and a crucial part of this team,” Hernandez added.
“He may have a significant bank account, but his heart is even larger than that,” he remarked. “He’s genuinely one of the special individuals in that clubhouse.”
An unprecedented talent
Edwin Diaz, hailing from the Naguabo region of Puerto Rico, has been surrounded by baseball his entire life. As a young boy, he played in the outfield alongside future stars like Carlos Correa and Jose Berrios, until his father encouraged him to pursue pitching — a decision that significantly changed his path.
The Seattle Mariners drafted Diaz in the minors in 2012, and by the start of the 2014 season, he was recognized as the team’s fifth-best prospect.
Diaz subsequently played for the Clinton LumberKings, the Bakersfield Blaze, and the Jackson Generals.
He made his Major League debut in 2016 with the Seattle Mariners, where he achieved a record by striking out ten consecutive batters, igniting his career’s ascent into prominence.
Since then, he has continued to set records and earn accolades season after season.
On December 3, 2018, the Mariners traded Diaz, Robinson Canó, and $20 million to the New York Mets for Jay Bruce, Jarred Kelenic, Anthony Swarzak, Gerson Bautista, and Justin Dunn. Edwin Diaz recorded his first save with the Mets on Opening Day against the Washington Nationals.
On September 26, 2019, Diaz allowed his 15th ninth-inning home run of the season, setting the record for the most home runs allowed by a pitcher during ninth innings in a single Major League season.
Two years later, he was selected as an All-Star for the second time in his career.
On November 9, 2022, Diaz signed a five-year contract with the Mets worth $102 million, marking the largest contract ever given to a relief pitcher.
In the wake of last Wednesday’s game, the baseball community is left to contend with the anxiety that one of its brightest stars may face a long absence from the game.
Image Source: Edwin Diaz @ Instagram