Edwin Díaz suffers baseball injury after wild WBC celebration as All- Star closer carted off field in wheelchair
NEW York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz has sustained a knee injury while pitching for Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic.
Díaz, a two-time MLB All-Star closer, was injured during the post-game celebration as Puerto Rico beat the Dominican Republic 5-2.
Díaz struck out Teoscar Hernández to end the game, prompting his teammates to run onto the field to celebrate.
However, the joy was short-lived as his teammates were soon signaling for help from the dugout as Díaz collapsed to the ground.
The pitcher, who had struck out three batters to end the game, reached for his right leg and could not put weight on it.
He was helped up but eventually taken off the field in a wheelchair.
Díaz was spotted pumping his fist in the air as he was carted off.
The extent of the injury is unknown.
However, Díaz was reportedly being taken for x-rays and was seen by specialists onsite.
The Mets released a statement via Twitter at 11.24pm.
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"Edwin Díaz injured his right knee after tonight’s WBC game. He will undergo imaging tomorrow and we will update when appropriate," the statement read.
Players appeared to be in shock as Díaz was tended to and eventually carted off.
Díaz's brother, Alexis, who is also playing for Puerto Rico, was seen crying in the aftermath of the incident.
The closer appeared in 61 games for the Mets in 2022 and had an ERA of just 1.31.
Díaz allowed just nine earned runs and recorded 118 strikeouts through 62 innings pitched.
With the win, Puerto Rico completed an upset over the Dominican Republic team and will move on to the quarterfinals of the WBC.