New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz, 30, is back in action after suffering an injury during last year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Diaz pitched one inning of scoreless relief, striking out three in an exhibition game against the Miami Marlins at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Wednesday.
Taking over for starter Tyler Megill in the top of the fifth inning with Miami up 1-0, Diaz got leadoff hitter Jesús Sánchez to swing at a six-pitch, 89.5 mph (144.0 km/h) slider with a full count. Abisail Garcia followed with a four-pitch 90.3 mph (145.3 km/h) slider for a strikeout, and Díaz got the final batter, John Berti, to ground out on a four-pitch 91.1 mph (146.6 km/h) slider for a strikeout to end the inning. His fastball touched 98 mph (157.7 km/h).
In 404 career major league games (399 1/3 innings), Diaz is 16-29 with 21 saves and a 2.93 ERA in 205 appearances. 바카라사이트 His best season came in 2022, when he went 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA in 61 games (62 innings) with 32 saves, finishing ninth in the National League Cy Young Award voting and 16th in MVP voting. He also garnered a lot of attention in Korea, where he was featured in the same song as foreign hitter Socrates Brito, who plays for KIA.
After a spectacular season in 2022,
Díaz signed a five-year, $120 million (approx. KRW 13.38 billion) extension with the Mets. However, after leading Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic in March last year, Díaz suffered a knee injury while surrounded by teammates celebrating his victory after pitching a one-hit, three-strikeout shutout in the game that clinched the quarterfinals. Puerto Rico’s finish to the tournament was even worse, losing 4-5 to Mexico in the quarterfinals.
Díaz is hoping to return healthy this season, and he raised expectations with a strong showing in the exhibition game. MLB.com reported, “The trumpet sounded. 사설 토토사이트 Timmy Trumpet’s ‘Narcos’ echoed through Clover Park on Monday. It could mean only one thing. Mets closer Edwin Díaz took the mound and received a standing ovation.” MLB.com reported on Díaz’s return.
“Díaz hasn’t pitched a game since suffering a complete tear of his right patellar tendon on March 17 of last year while pitching in the WBC. With Diaz out, the Mets bullpen went 25-36 with a 4.48 ERA and only 34 saves in 52 chances,” said MLB.com, emphasizing that Diaz’s return will give the Mets bullpen a boost.