Mets Edwin Diaz injures his knee celebrating Puerto Rico’s win over DR and leaves in a WHEELCHAIR

New York Mets star closing pitcher Edwin Diaz was carried off the field after suffering what appeared to be a catastrophic injury Puerto Rico’s win in the World Baseball Classic.

Diaz’s Puerto Rico squad had just recorded a massive win 5-2 over the Dominican Republic and were huddled together jumping up and down after the immediate conclusion of the game when he was hurt.

The 28-year-old Diaz was at the center of the dogpile as he and his teammates celebrated before he fell to the ground. Teammates could immediately be seen waving for help from medical personal.

Diaz was unable to put weight on his knee as he was helped off the field and left under the diamond in a wheelchair. 

According to reports Diaz is undergoing X-rays and other evaluations from doctors in the stadium and no diagnosis has yet been made. The Mets said in a statement about an hour after the game that Díaz had a right knee injury and would undergo imaging Thursday. 

Edwin Diaz was carried off the field after dramatically injuring himself on Wednesday night

Diaz was celebrating Puerto Rico beating the Dominican Republic when he got hurt

He got hurt in an innocuous moment as his team mates raced over to celebrate with him (left)

Díaz´s brother, Cincinnati pitcher Alexis Díaz, was crying as Edwin was taken away. Mets teammate and Puerto Rico shortstop Francisco Lindor stood nearby with his hands on his head. 

‘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.

‘Like I said in the dugout, it sucks, sorry, but when you see a guy that works so hard like Edwin, I mean when you see him on the ground like that, I mean it just is sad.’

New York had attempted to be careful with Diaz, who previously announced that he would not be allowed to pitch in back-to-back games until at least the WBC final. 

The Mets will certainly be upset that Diaz suffered what appears to be a severe injury after re-signing closing pitcher Diaz on a five-year, $102 million contract, the largest ever given to a relief pitcher.

Last season he was named the National League Hoffman Reliever Award last season after finishing with a 1.31 ERA and an incredible 17.1 strikeouts per nine innings. 

Diaz finished 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 61 games in 2022, striking out 118 batters in 62 innings.

The two-time All-Star right-hander is 16-29 with a 2.93 ERA and 205 saves in 404 career relief appearances for the Seattle Mariners (2016-18) and Mets. He led the majors with 57 saves in 2018.

Diaz soon felt to the floor and was clutching his knee as the celebrations suddenly fell flat

Members of the Puerto Rico coaching staff tried to help a stricken Diaz off the field

Diaz eventually needed a wheelchair and cut a dejected figure as he was wheeled away

His massive contract extension he signed this summer also likely ensured he would be the team’s primary closing pitcher, after at times being used in the role rotationally last year. 

Heading into this offseason the Mets made pitching and improving the bullpen one of the main priorities in free agency.

New York added relief pitchers David Robertson, Brooks Raley and Elieser Hernandez all to bullpen roles this winter.

More importantly they also made huge splashes by signing two of the off-season’s most prized arms by inking Cy Young winner Justin Verlander to a two-year $86.7 million deal and Japanese superstar Kodai Senga to a five-year $75 million deal, to go along with the addition of Jose Quintana’s two-year $26 million deal.

To go along with all of those signings New York also re-signed outfielder Brandon Nimmo to a massive eight-year deal for $162 million, and nearly signed shortstop Carlos Correa to a massive contract had it not been for a failed physical evaluation.

The Mets projected payroll for this season is currently $33,893,332 which shatter the previous record of $291m.

For those wondering why the Mets would let a player that was set to play such a pivotal role in their season play in the World Baseball Classic, well the simple answer is because of the high importance the competition holds amongst the baseball world, that it may not amongst the average fan.

The WBC is the equivalent of baseball’s World Cup is the only international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) in partnership with MLB.

It is also the only baseball tournament sanctioned by the WBSC that grants the winner the title of ‘World Champion.’

Diaz’s brother – Cincinnati pitcher Alexis Díaz – was in tears as his brother went off