Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Diaz is "fully healthy" after completing his recovery from the patellar tendon surgery he required on his right knee last March, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Coming off a brilliant 2022 campaign in which he converted 32 of 35 save chances while posting a 1.31 ERA and striking out 118 over 62 innings, Diaz profiled as arguably the top closer in fantasy drafts heading into last spring, but his season was quickly torpedoed before it even started after he injured his knee while celebrating a win for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Diaz didn't experience any setbacks while completing what had been expected to be a six-month recovery from surgery, and though he had hoped to pitch at some point in September, the Mets chose not to activate him as they played out the string on a non-contending season. Mendoza wasn't willing to fully commit to Diaz being in store for a normal spring training, but the right-hander is seemingly facing no restrictions in his throwing program so far this offseason and should settle back into the closer's role for the Mets by the time Opening Day arrives.
The Mets announced Monday that Diaz (knee) won't be activated from the 60-day injured list this season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
A return for the final week of the regular season or the postseason might have been in play for Diaz if the Mets were in playoff contention, but the veteran closer won't be rushed back into action in light of the team's place in the standings. Since undergoing surgery in March to repair a torn patellar tendon suffered during the World Baseball Classic, Diaz has seemingly navigated the rehab process free of setbacks. He'll continue to throw bullpen sessions through the end of September and should be in store for a relatively normal offseason before he likely enters spring training without any restrictions. Diaz's continued absence should insulate Adam Ottavino as the Mets' top option for saves the rest of the way.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: More bullpens scheduled
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Diaz (knee) will throw at least one bullpen session at Port St. Lucie this week, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
While the Mets haven't provided a specific reason why the right-hander will take the mound in Florida rather than New York, the team's pitching lab is located at the Port St. Lucie complex. Time is running out for Diaz to make an appearance in the majors before the end of the regular season, but the team has yet to rule it out.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: More bullpen sessions this week
Rotowire
Diaz (knee) is scheduled to throw two bullpen sessions this week in front of the Mets' major-league coaching staff, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Those workouts could go a long way toward determining whether Diaz will be allowed to pitch in the majors this season. That he's traveling with the Mets on their current road trip is a positive sign, but manager Buck Showalter continues to call it a week-to-week situation. The 29-year-old required surgery this spring after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's victory over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Completes bullpen session
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Diaz (knee) threw a bullpen session Sunday and sported a fastball that sat around 93-to-95 miles per hour, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.
Diaz averaged 99 mph with his heater during the 2022 season, but Ragazzo notes that the right-hander didn't appear to be throwing at 100 percent effort. In any case, Diaz has reached a major milestone in his recovery from patellar tendon surgery by completing a bullpen session for the first time since suffering the knee injury in mid-March while playing for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. As has been the case since he underwent surgery, Diaz remained adamant Monday that his goal is to pitch again for the Mets in 2023. Even though the club isn't in playoff contention, Diaz could still get the green light to pitch for the big club in the closing weeks of the season if he navigates his throwing progression without any complications.
Diaz (knee) threw off a mound in the bullpen Wednesday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
It's not clear whether it was a regular bullpen session or a touch-and-feel situation, but either way, it's the first time Diaz has thrown from the rubber since he underwent patellar tendon surgery in March. Prior to Wednesday's session, he had done some throwing from the base of the mound. Diaz and the Mets have not ruled out a late-season return for the star reliever, but it's far from a guarantee that it will happen. Fantasy managers shouldn't be counting on him to contribute again until 2024.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Throwing from base of mound
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Diaz (knee) recently began throwing from the base of the mound, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Diaz will continue the process for another week or so and could progress to full mound work after that, although Mets general manager Billy Eppler would not commit to that. "Let's just really focus on the process," Eppler said. "What are we doing today, and was today successful? Will we repeat today? And how many days would we repeat before we move to the next phase? When we get a chance to get some objective data as well as subjective data -- feedback from the player -- then we can see what comes next." Diaz has been holding out hope for a late-season return from patellar tendon surgery, but it's not a guarantee it will happen. With his team turning the page to 2024, they might decide it's not worth pushing Diaz to return this season.
Diaz (knee) played catch at Citi Field on Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Healy notes that Diaz was throwing from center field to the foul line in right field, a substantial distance as he ramps up his rehab program. The 29-year-old closer has stated that he wants to return this season from March surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, through he still has quite a few hurdles to clear and the Mets are currently 7.5 games back of the third wild-card spot in the National League. The Mets might rather have him focus toward getting fully healthy for spring training.
Diaz (knee) told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that he believes he can join the Mets before the end of the season. "If everything keeps going how it's going, we've got a chance to pitch," said Diaz. "The trainers and doctors will decide, but I feel great. Let's see what's coming for us."
Mets general manager Billy Eppler initially announced in mid-March that Diaz would miss eight months -- thus the entire 2023 season -- after the closer suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's win over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Then came word in April that it could be closer to a six-month overall recovery process, which would point him toward a return sometime in mid-to-late September. Diaz has been doing some light jogging and other cardio workouts, though there's currently no timetable for when he might resume throwing.
Diaz (knee) said Wednesday that he's progressing well after surgery and believes he can return from the 60-day injured list in October, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. "If everything goes well, I think I can be back quicker than eight months... I might throw this year," Diaz said.
Diaz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee back on March 15 while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's victory over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and later underwent surgery. The hard-throwing closer is presumed to be out for the regular season, and even a chance to help in the postseason should the Mets qualify seems unlikely at this juncture. Still, it's a positive sign that Diaz is making progress from the operation on his knee, and assuming he steers clear of any setbacks in the months to come, he looks like he'll at least be ready to go for the start of spring training next year.
