Mets star Edwin Díaz tore his patellar tendon in his knee while celebrating win in World Baseball Classic
New York Mets star closer Edwin Díaz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night.
Díaz underwent a successful repair Thursday, and is expected to begin a rehab program in about a week, the Mets tweeted.
The 28-year-old pitcher injured himself as the team jumped up and down and hugged each other following their 5-2 victory at loanDepot Park in Miami.
He limped toward the dugout but struggled to put weight on his right leg. He eventually used his left leg to hop over to a wheelchair.
Díaz’s brother and Puerto Rico teammate, Alexis, cried as Edwin was taken off the field.
In a tweet Thursday night, Díaz said he was grateful for the messages of support, and said he is “doing well and healing.”
The patellar tendon attaches the bottom of the kneecap to the top of the shinbone. It “takes a very strong force” to tear it but a person can injure it by jumping or falling,” according to OrthoInfo.
Edwin Díaz pitched a perfect ninth inning to help Puerto Rico advance to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals. They will face Mexico on Friday in Miami.
The pitcher dominated the 2022 season with 32 saves and a career-best 1.31 ERA. He inked a five-year, $102 million deal with the Mets.
This is the first World Baseball Classic since 2017 and the quadrennial tournament isn’t universally embraced in the United States.
Díaz’s injury immediately gave rise to critics of the competition, who believed the world’s top baseball players should only be focusing on their upcoming domestic seasons each March.
Mets radio play-by-play voice Howie Rose tweeted, “Thank you, WBC,” shortly after Díaz’s injury.
Radio personality and former MLB journeyman Kevin Frandsen defended the WBC and responded to Rose, saying injuries happen all the time: “When I blew out my Achilles in 2008 should it have been thank you, Spring Training?”
By Thursday, Rose walked back his harsh critique and suggested the tournament should be played after the domestic season.
Star Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hurt his hamstring playing in this tournament for Canada, prompting former MSNBC host and noted baseball fan Keith Olbermann to demand the WBC be eliminated.
