Mets closer Edwin Díaz injures knee at WBC; USA advances to quarterfinals

Just moments after sending Puerto Rico to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals on Wednesday night, New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz injured his right knee in what appeared to be a serious, freak occurrence.

Celebrating a 5-2 upset Pool D victory over the Dominican Republic, Díaz fell to the turf at Miami’s loanDepot Park. He was helped off the field, unable to put weight on his right leg.

Edwin Díaz injured his right knee after tonight’s WBC game. He will undergo imaging tomorrow and we will update when appropriate.

— New York Mets (@Mets) March 16, 2023

Díaz, 28, had a 1.31 ERA with 32 saves in 61 games for the Mets last season, and signed a record-breaking five-year, $102 million contract this past winter to stay in New York’s bullpen for the foreseeable future. But following his injury, his status for the first year of that deal now seems uncertain.

Knocking the Dominican Republic out of the tournament, Puerto Rico (3-1) advanced in the WBC as the second seed out of Pool D. The team will face Pool C winner Mexico (3-1) on Friday in Miami at 7 p.m. on FS1.

Team USA makes it out of Pool C

It was a win-and-in scenario for the United States on Wednesday night at Phoenix’s Chase Field, and its captain took care of business.

Superstar Mike Trout — the leader of Team USA and perhaps the best player on the planet — tallied three hits against Pool C opponent Colombia as he drove in all three runs in a 3-2 win. His fifth-inning, two-run single put the his team on top for good to propel the United States to the quarterfinals.

Trout tripled in the first inning, then opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the third. Colombia responded in the bottom of the inning as Gio Urshela plated former Phillie Óscar Mercado with a sacrifice fly and Reynaldo Rodriguez drove in former Phils catcher Jorge Alfaro with a double.

Trout had the final say, however, as his liner to left field in the top of the fifth scored two to lift Team USA to victory.

Trea Turner went 1-for-3 for the United States, while Kyle Schwarber went hitless in three at-bats. Catcher J.T. Realmuto had a day off in favor of backstop Will Smith.

Team USA (3-1), the runner-up in Pool C, will head to Miami to take on Pool D winner Venezuela (4-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m. on Fox.

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