Mets’ Edwin Díaz provides recovery timeline update, says he ‘may throw this year’

Mets star closer Edwin Díaz provided a positive update on his recovery after surgery on his right patellar tendon, saying Wednesday, “If the tests are coming back good, I may throw this year.” Here’s what you need to know:

Díaz injured his knee during Puerto Rico’s on-field celebration at the World Baseball Classic last month. He underwent surgery on March 16.
The general timeline for the surgery recovery is usually about eight months, Mets general manager Billy Eppler previously said, which would rule Díaz out for the 2023 season.
Díaz confirmed the eight-month estimated recovery timeline, saying Wednesday that “Some people do it before. Some people do it after. I will try to come as soon as possible.” He added, “If everything goes well, I think I can come back sooner than eight months.”
The Mets are 6-6 and second in the National League East.

What else did Díaz say?

Díaz said he is feeling “great” and the priority remains on healing his knee “and then they will see how I am responding, my strength, all these things I have to do, and I start throwing.”

He said, “As of right now, my knee is doing great. They are really happy. So we are in a good direction for that.”

When asked if he had any regrets related to the World Baseball Classic, Díaz said: “I think people can get hurt in any place. It happened to me in the WBC. That’s part of the game. I wasn’t pitching. I was celebrating with my teammates.”

“If I have the chance to play again for my country, yeah, I would do it,” he said.

Díaz said he is trying to get the rest of his body stronger, including exercises to keep his arm strong.

“We are going step by step,” he said. “I am really happy with what I am doing. First, I was really sad because I was going to the injured list for the first time in my career. I was really healthy. (I’ve) been healthy my whole career. When I saw that happen and I saw all my teammates with me, I was really sad. But then I realized I was going through a process. I am positive. I am trying to do my best. We are doing good right now.”

How have the Mets fared without him?

So far, the Mets’ bullpen has mostly gotten the job done without Díaz, but they also haven’t had too many meaningful opportunities. According to FanGraphs, the Mets’ bullpen has logged just 2 1/3 high-leverage innings. They are one of just six teams that have yet to blow a save, but at 6-6 they also haven’t encountered too many save opportunities just yet.

Without Díaz, David Robertson has operated as the team’s preferred closer. Robertson has both of the Mets’ saves. The veteran right-hander has yet to allow a run in five innings. He’s surrendered just one hit with six strikeouts. But Robertson also profiles as the Mets’ second-best choice against left-handed batters behind lefty Brooks Raley because of Robertson’s neutral splits. Therefore, Adam Ottavino could also see save opportunities, if, say, the Mets face great left-handed batters in the eighth inning of a close game and must turn to Robertson then.

There’s a cascading impact to Díaz’s absence; middle relievers like Drew Smith and John Curtiss have become even more important. As a whole, the Mets’ bullpen owns a 4.07 ERA, which puts them in the middle of the league. — Sammon

Backstory

Díaz needed to be helped off the field after celebrating with teammates following a 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic. He appeared unable to put any weight on his right leg before being guided into a wheelchair and down the tunnel.

The pitcher struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to close out the victory. With the win, Puerto Rico punched its ticket to the quarterfinals, where it lost to Mexico.

Required reading

(Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty)