Edwin Diaz’s Puerto Rico teammates react to closer’s injury: ‘It sucks’

Mar 15, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Puerto Rico players take a knee as pitcher Edwin Diaz (not pictured) gets checked on by training staff after an apparent leg injury during the team celebration against Dominican Republic at LoanDepot Park. / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

It was supposed to be a joyous moment for Edwin Diaz, Francisco Lindor and the rest of the Puerto Rico team Wednesday night.

They just defeated the mighty Dominican Republic team, 5-2, to not only advance to the 2023 World Baseball Classic quarterfinals but eliminate their rivals in the process. Unfortunately, smiles turned to tears as Diaz, in the midst of the team’s celebration, seemingly injured his leg.

His teammates surrounded him, confused and shocked as Diaz’s younger brother Alexis was visibly crying. The 28-year-old had to be wheelchaired into the dugout, putting a damper on what was an exciting game in Miami.

Diaz was a massive part of that win, closing the door on the Dominicans by striking out all three batters he faced. What ensued was a joyous celebration on the field and in the dugout.

“I was hugging our coaches in the dugout. Then when we looked up, Edwin was on the ground,” Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina said. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know how to act, I didn’t know how to — what to say. I mean, I didn’t know. It got me for a surprise.”

Outfielder Kiké Hernández called the locker room “quiet” after the game as Diaz’s teammates wait to hear his diagnosis.

Diaz was taken for an X-ray at the stadium, and the Mets put out a statement hours later stating that the reliever injured his right knee and he will undergo further imaging Thursday.

“It comes to a certain point that it’s bigger than the game and something very unfortunate happened,” Hernandez said. “As excited as we were about the game and all that, that’s one of our brothers … It’s really easy to set aside the game and worry about us as humans. It definitely doesn’t feel in there like we defeated the Dominican Republic to advance.”

“It sucks, when you see a guy that works so hard like Edwin. When you see him on the ground like that. It’s sad,” Molina said.

While the severity of Diaz’s injury is unknown it’s likely that his WBC is over. With the tournament set to end this weekend, Puerto Rico will have to continue without their closer and the guy who brings the clubhouse together.

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“Sugar is one of the glue guys in that clubhouse… he has a really big bank account but his heart is way bigger than his bank account,” Hernandez said of Diaz. “He’s one of the really special human beings we’ve got in that clubhouse.”

Last season for the Mets, Diaz saved 32 games and posted a miniscule 1.31 ERA en route to an All-Star selection, and garnering Cy Young and MVP votes.

With the Mets missing relievers like Brooks Raley and Sam Coonrod, they can’t afford to lose Diaz for a long period of time.