Puerto Rico's elimination win over the Dominican Republic came with emotional whiplash immediately after the game Wednesday.
New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz, who closed out the game to send Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals of the WBC, had to be taken off the field in a wheelchair after he sustained a knee injury while celebrating the victory with his teammates.
Some of the Puerto Rican players, jubilant a moment prior, were openly crying as Díaz sat on the mound with his head in his hands. The group included his brother, Cincinnati Reds reliever Alexis Díaz.That effort in 2022 earned Díaz a second career All-Star nod and the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award. He also reached mainstream fame with his entrance ritual featuring the song "Narco" by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet.
After the season, Díaz signed a five-year, $102 million contract to stay with the Mets, who are once again expected to contend in the NL. The contract is the biggest in MLB history for a reliever.
Díaz looked the part for Puerto Rico before his injury Wednesday, striking out all three Dominican batters in the ninth to close out a 5-2 win in the de facto elimination game and send Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals. Now his status could cast a pall over the entire World Baseball Classic.The firepower of the Dominican lineup meant it was difficult to ever rule out a comeback, but the Puerto Rico bullpen proved itself as one of the strongest in the tournament. Eight pitchers took the mound, capped off by closer Edwin Díaz, who injured his right knee in the postgame celebration and had to be taken off the field via wheelchair.
At 3-1, Puerto Rico officially finishes second in Pool D, behind 4-0 Venezuela. Both advance to the quarterfinals beginning Friday in Miami.MIAMI (AP) — New York Mets fans began the year dreaming about a World Series closed out by Edwin Díaz.
For now, they’re facing a potential nightmare.
In a startling scene, Díaz was taken off the field in a wheelchair after injuring his right knee celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night.No matter what, this setback was sure to set off spirited debate about whether the tournament, which started in 2006 and was held every three or four years until a cancellation in 2021, is worth it.
“Those things, they can happen to anybody at any given time,” said Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Mookie Betts, who was playing for the United States when Díaz was hurt.Every day you show up to the yard, there’s a possibility of getting hurt. There’s hazard in the job. Anyone can get hurt at any given time. Anything can happen," he said. "That’s the risk we run playing baseball. We’re athletes and injuries are unfortunately part of the game.”
It's true that injuries can happen anytime in baseball. Infielder Gavin Lux tore his knee in a recent exhibition game for the Dodgers and is out for the season. Los Angeles teammate Freddie Freeman hurt his hamstring this week playing for Canada.
