The 2023 World Baseball Classic was a roller-coaster-like ride of emotions for Team Puerto Rico.
They defeated the Dominican Republic in a win-and-in affair in Pool D, eliminating their neighbors and advancing to the quarterfinals.
The victory was costly, though: the New York Mets‘ Edwin Diaz tore his patellar tendon in the celebrations.
He has been lost for the year, and is just starting his road back to the mound that will likely extend until the spring of 2024.
His teammate both on the Mets and Team Puerto Rico, Francisco Lindor, couldn’t help but cry for his friend in the aftermath of the injury.
“Francisco Lindor says he ‘couldn’t stop crying’ over Edwin Díaz‘s injury at the WBC: ‘I never knew I loved Edwin so much until I couldn’t stop crying. That’s when I realized I loved Edwin a lot… It broke my heart. It did not feel good,'” SNY tweeted, quoting the star shortstop.
Francisco Lindor says he "couldn't stop crying" over Edwin Díaz's injury at the WBC:
"I never knew I loved Edwin so much until I couldn't stop crying. That's when I realized I loved Edwin a lot… It broke my heart. It did not feel good." pic.twitter.com/7EnhYg6EAW
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 21, 2023
Lindor, who was the captain of Team Puerto Rico, knows that the road ahead will not be easy for Diaz.
He has confidence that his teammate will be back stronger than ever next year.
He has already gone under the knife, and the recovery process is expected to take eight months.
Diaz will be badly missed in a Mets bullpen that was already down some important arms.
Diaz was incredible in 2022, with 32 saves, a 1.31 ERA, and 118 strikeouts in just 62 innings.
Puerto Rico certainly missed him in their quarterfinal clash against Mexico, one that ended in a loss.
If there is a silver lining, is that the injury wasn’t arm-related.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for everybody involved, though.
NEXT: Reds GM Comments On Edwin Diaz's Situation
