Mets' Edwin Diaz open to playing in World Baseball Classic again despite previous freak injury
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free
Last week at the All-Star Game, Edwin Díaz threw 13 pitches in a globally watched exhibition that is an honor for players and entertaining for fans.
He would be open to doing so again next March.
Despite how his last World Baseball Classic experience ended, the Mets closer said he is hopeful but not 100 percent sure he will play in the 2026 WBC for Puerto Rico.
'As of now, I would play if I had the chance to play,' Díaz said last week. 'I would play to represent my country.'
A lot can happen between now and March.
Díaz is having a phenomenal season in what might be a walk year, if he decides to opt out of the two years and $37 million remaining on his current deal (which also includes a 2028 club option).
So before deciding whether to pitch in the tournament, perhaps Díaz would chat with and seek permission from the Mets or whichever team with whom he signs.
But the player himself has not been scared off by the torn patellar tendon in his right knee he suffered while celebrating a win over the Dominican Republic in the 2023 WBC. He then missed the entire MLB season.
Edwin Díaz is helped off the field after tearing his patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a win over the Dominican Republic in the 2023 WBC.
Getty Images
'I didn't get hurt pitching,' Díaz said. 'That's something that can happen at my house or wherever. If I was pitching, maybe I would be a little bit scared [to return to the WBC].
'But I just want to go there and represent my country and have fun.'
Díaz said he has helped Puerto Rico captain Francisco Lindor with some early recruiting work for the team, which lost to Mexico in the quarterfinals two years ago.
Edwin Díaz throws a pitch during the eighth inning of the Mets' win over the Angels on July 23, 2025.
Jason Szenes / New York Post
'If I get the chance, I want to play with [Lindor] again,' Díaz said.
The Mets announced they have signed 18 of their 19 draft picks.
James Smith IV, their 14th-round pick and a righty pitcher and outfielder at the University of Memphis, is expected to return to school.
Delivering insights on all things Amazin's
Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+
Thank you
Enter your email address
Please provide a valid email address.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter!
Check out more newsletters
Additionally, the Mets announced they have signed nine non-drafted free agents: Righty pitchers Austin Brown (from Chipola College), Parker Carlson (Auburn), Jonah Conradt (McLennan), Ryan Dollar (Houston), Colby Frieda (Troy) and Caden Wooster (Santa Clara), outfielders John Bay (Austin Peay) and AJ Salgado (UCLA), and catcher Chase Meggers (Oregon).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Dwight Muhammad Qawi, boxer who went from prison to champion, dies at 72
Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the Hall of Fame fighter who took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion, has died. He was 72. Qawi's sister, Wanda King, said he died Friday following a five-year battle with dementia. Advertisement Michael Spinks raises his hand in victory as loser Dwight Braxton holds on to him in Atlantic City, N.J., March 18, 1983. AP Born Dwight Braxton in Baltimore, Qawi grew up in Camden. He competed in the boxing program at Rahway State Prison while serving a sentence for armed robbery, and turned professional at age 25 soon after his release in 1978. In December 1981, Qawi — who legally changed his name in 1982 following his conversion to Islam — stopped Matthew Saad Muhammad in the 10th round to win the WBC light heavyweight belt. Qawi stopped Saad again eight months later, taking six rounds. Advertisement After a loss Michael Spinks, the 5-foot-7 Qawi — called 'The Camden Buzzsaw' — moved up in weight and took the WBA cruiserweight title from Piet Crous in July 1985. Qawi lost the title to future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in a 15-rounder in July 1986. Qawi later fought as a heavyweight, with George Foreman stopping him in seven rounds. Dwight Muhammad Qawi giving an acceptance speech into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. AP Advertisement Qawi retired in 1998 at age 46 with a 41-11-1 record and 25 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. After his retirement from the ring, he worked as a boxing trainer, youth advocate and drug and alcohol counselor.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Mets' Starling Marte ‘didn't miss a beat' in return from injury
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free SAN FRANCISCO — Starling Marte was contributing offensively for the Mets before he hit the injured list in early July, and since his return, he has regained that momentum. The veteran DH now has six hits in his 10 at-bats since his activation from the IL last week after going 2-for-3 with a walk in the Mets' 5-3 win over the Giants on Sunday. Marte missed two weeks after receiving a gel injection for discomfort in his right knee. 'He's been huge,' manager Carlos Mendoza said before the victory. 'He continues to give us solid at-bats against lefties, righties. He goes down and missed a few days, and then he comes back and seems like he didn't miss a beat.' 3 Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a double in the top of the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 26, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Marte entered play with a .262/.364/.412 slash line with four homers and 20 RBIs. In the starting lineup again Sunday, Marte reached base three times for the second straight day. Mendoza's other option would have been to start Mark Vientos as the DH. 'I am going to try to keep [Marte] in the lineup, but at the same time, I am going to continue to monitor him,' Mendoza said. 'I'm going to continue to give him days off and get his feedback. He's usually pretty honest with us, so we'll go game by game and series by series.' 3 Starling Marte #6, Juan Soto #22 and Ronny Mauricio #10 of the New York Mets celebrates in the dugout after Soto hit a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on July 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Paul Blackburn was sharp in a potential final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse. The right-hander allowed one earned run on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk over 6 ¹/₃ innings. Blackburn, who is rehabbing a shoulder impingement, could next rejoin the team as a long reliever/sixth starter, but Mendoza indicated a decision won't be reached until at least Monday. Delivering insights on all things Amazin's Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Edwin Díaz extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings since June 6 by pitching a scoreless ninth Sunday. He loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter but pitched out of trouble to earn his 23rd save in 25 chances this season. 3 Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz celebrates against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 27, 2025. AP The All-Star closer has allowed only one earned run over his past 32 appearances, owning a 4-0 record with 17 saves since April 23. Jose Siri, who has been sidelined since April with a fractured left tibia, still isn't close to resuming baseball activities, but it's still expected he will play again this season, according to Mendoza. Siri's workouts have consisted of running in a pool to strengthen the leg.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Dwight Muhammad Qawi, boxer who went from prison to champion, dies at 72
CAMDEN, N.J. — Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the Hall of Fame fighter who took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion, has died. He was 72. Qawi's sister, Wanda King, said he died Friday following a five-year battle with dementia. Born Dwight Braxton in Baltimore, Qawi grew up in Camden. He competed in the boxing program at Rahway State Prison while serving a sentence for armed robbery, and turned professional at age 25 soon after his release in 1978. In December 1981, Qawi — who legally changed his name in 1982 following his conversion to Islam — stopped Matthew Saad Muhammad in the 10th round to win the WBC light heavyweight belt. Qawi stopped Saad again eight months later, in six rounds. After a loss Michael Spinks, the 5-foot-7 Qawi — called 'The Camden Buzzsaw' — moved up in weight and took the WBA cruiserweight title from Piet Crous in July 1985. Qawi lost the title to future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in a 15-rounder in July 1986. Qawi later fought as a heavyweight, with George Foreman stopping him in seven rounds. Qawi retired in 1998 at age 46 with a 41-11-1 record and 25 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. After his retirement from the ring, he worked as a boxing trainer, youth advocate and drug and alcohol counselor.
