MLB analyst announces Edwin Diaz will be out for the season after New York Mets pitcher sustains fall in WBC victory

When it comes to closers, there are few better than New York Mets ace Edwin Diaz. The 6-foot-3 Puerto Rican is a former AL-save leader and a pivotal part of any bullpen.

His team knows how important he is. By signing Diaz to a 5-year deal worth $102 last December, the Mets made him the highest paid relief pitcher in MLB history, and thus placed a tremendous amount of confidence in him.

Edwin Diaz has made 64 saves over the past two seasons. In 2022, he hit a career-low in ERA, posting a figure of just 1.31 in 61 appearances.

Diaz has been on the New York Mets since 2018, when he came over from the Seattle Mariners with Robinson Cano for a swathe of young talent and considerations.

When the New York Mets closer announced that he would be representing Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, fans knew that the Puerto Rican bullpen would be getting a huge boost.

On March 15th, Puerto Rico squared off against the Dominican Republic in the final game of Pool D at the World Baseball Classic. The game remained close at the Miami Marlins home field until Christian Vazquez hit a home run in the fourth inning that spurred on four more from Puerto Rico. It was 5-2 when Diaz was called in to close off the affair.

"Edwin Diaz appears to have suffered an injury during Puerto Rico's celebration" Fox Sports: MLB

After striking out Dominican outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to complete the victory, Edwin Diaz was swarmed by his teammates. In a freak incident, the 28 year old injured his leg and had to be carried off the field.

New York Mets fans held their breath as they waited for Diaz' prognosis. Diaz' signing was just one of the Mets' big deals of the offseason, with 2022 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and former NPB All-Star Kodai Senga both being named new starters.

Following the game, Jeff Passan of ESPN announced that Diaz had torn his patellar tendon in his right knee. He will undergo surgery this week, and is expected to miss the entire 2022 season.

Horrible Edwin Diaz injury is causing some to criticize the WBC

Although Puerto Rico's tournament will be over next week at the latest, the ramifications for Edwin Diaz will last far longer. Some are using the tragic event as a means to justify ending the WBC, seeing it as too much risk too close to the start of the season. If more serious injuries like this occur, people might begin to echo those calls.