Players quick to say don’t blame series for injuries
The World Baseball Classic has reached peak controversy.
Mets star closer Edwin Diaz was taken off of the field in a wheelchair Wednesday night in Miami after suffering what has now been revealed as a torn patellar tendon during Puerto Rico’s postgame celebration.
Diaz, who had just pitched a perfect ninth inning in a 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic, will now undergo surgery and likely is done for the season.
Despite outrage from Mets faithful on social media over the thought of possibly losing their All-star closer for the season due to a freak celebration in an outside competition, major-league players are rallying to defend the international spring tournament.
Mets reliever Adam Ottavino — who is pitching in the WBC for Team USA — said it was just a “fluke thing.”
“It could’ve happened in any type of situation, regardless,” Ottavino told reporters after Team USA’S victory over Colombia Wednesday night. “I don’t think it’s the tournament’s fault, but it does stink. For the team and, obviously, for him.”
In fact, most players seem to be aligned with that thinking, including Dodgers star Mookie Betts.
“Those things, they can happen to anybody at any given time,” Betts said, via the Los Angeles Times. “And you can always try and place blame on the WBC, but that’s just a freak accident that could happen to anyone at any given time.
“This is so much fun, and this is way better than getting four at-bats in the backfields. I encourage those who are watching, come join, come play for Team USA, because this is a lot of fun.”
The draw of the World Baseball Classic is getting to represent your country and the electricity of the crowds that come along with it. This year’s installment of the tournament is the first since 2017 and has been highly anticipated ever since the cancellation of the 2021 WBC due to COVID.
Team Venezuela manager Omar Lopez explained why the tournament is an important part of the baseball world.
“This is the game, that’s baseball,” said Lopez at Loandepot Park in Miami on Thursday. “And we play hard and you play for your country. And when you’re representing your country in the best way that you can, anything can happen.
“This tournament has to continue to be a part of our life. We have to take the risk, we have to take everything as we can to support every single country because the players want to represent their country.”
While the injury to Diaz is unfortunate and the optics in which it happened could encourage teams not to allow their best to participate in the future, the Mets closer would likely agree with Lopez based on his comments prior to the tournament kicking off.
“It’s representing my country,” Diaz told the Daily News. “Every player dreams of representing their country. I feel proud to have Puerto Rico on my chest.”
The 28-year-old reliever just signed a five-year, $102 million contract this offseason after a spectacular 2022 season with the Mets.
Diaz posted a 1.31 ERA in 61 games recording 32 saves while becoming a fan favorite in Flushing thanks in part to his electric entrance to the song “Narco” by Timmy Trumpets.
Should Diaz be down for an extended period of time, it will be a massive blow to Buck Showalter’s bullpen, which will now need to call on newly signed David Robertson or others in the bullpen to close games.