Edwin Diaz Injury: Mets Pitcher's Return After Freak Accident Gets Positive Update

New York Mets' highest-paid pitcher could return to the field soon as manager Carlos Mendoza shared that Edwin Diaz is recovering well from his patellar tendon tear injury.

According to reports, he could make a spring return against the Miami Marlins in a training game. However, it would be in a limited capacity as he was set a 20-pitch limit. He will be a reliever to starter Tylor Megill.

Diaz's injury was one of the most freakish and unfortunate in recent baseball history. It occurred while he was celebrating the victory of his country, Puerto Rico, over the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic.

In the footage of his injury, Diaz was seen in a celebratory mode after closing the victory against their continental rivals in one scene, then down on the ground in the next. His teammates can be heard crying for a stretcher to get him off the field.

His team reached the quarterfinals but were knocked out by Mexico, 4-5.

"Excited for the boys, for the whole team, for himself," Mendoza told reporters when asked about Diaz's return.

"The fact that he gets to pitch in a major league game for the first time after, you know, a long year of rehab and all that, I think is important for all of us."

Diaz was the league's highest-paid relief pitcher heading into the 2023 season after signing a 5-year $102 million contract with the Mets in November 2022.

He was the 2022 National League Reliever of the Year and made the All-MLB First Team of the same season.

Before going down, he made 32 saves on a 1.31 earned run average. He made 186 outs, with 118 strikeouts.

Diaz is also excited for his return.

"That's something, like everyone's waiting for that. Me too. So, can't wait to hear the trumpets back in Citi Field," said Diaz.

The first domino to fall for the Mets

The Mets' 2023 season was completely opposite to what analysts expected before the start of the regular games.

They reached the Wildcard of 2022, where they grabbed 101 wins and lost to the San Diego Padres in three games.

They came into the new season with renewed hopes thanks to massive spending. However, being the league's highest-spender did not bear any fruit, no thanks to the injuries to key players. The team only managed to win 75 games.

First was Edwin Diaz, who had not even seen the MLB field in 2023. Before the season's end, the team had to let go of Cy Young Award winners Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, rendering them sellers instead of buyers after splurging in the offseason.

Manager Buck Showalter was eventually fired and replaced by former New York Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza.

The management has high hopes for Diaz and his coaching style, which they believe will gel well with the players.

"Carlos is full of energy, passion and it was easy to see he'll have a great rapport with both our veteran and young players," Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement.