New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz missed the entire 2023 season with a serious knee injury sustained in the World Baseball Classic.
It required surgery, but after completing all the steps in his rehab, Diaz is now ready to return to closing duties with the Mets.
According to MLB writer Rowan Kavner of FOX Sports, however, he will return to the top spot in the relief pitcher power rankings.
To be more specific, he ranked the best closers, and Diaz’s name appears at the top.
Ranking the top 10 closing pitchers for 2024 pic.twitter.com/9manD2ZAfu
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 6, 2024
If his knee injury is behind him, and there is every reason to believe it is, Diaz will return to the dominant force he has been at the back of the Mets bullpen.
In 2022, for example, he struck out 118 hitters in just 62 innings, with a 1.31 ERA.
That’s more strikeouts than some starters who surpassed 150 innings!
He also saved 32 games that year.
The Mets, who had a horrible season last year in part because of the bullpen instability, are trying to return to contention in 2024.
In that regard, having Diaz’s most dominant version back will be crucial.
The tall right-hander will turn 30 this month, so he is still very much in his physical and mental prime.
The bullpen looks so much better with him in top form.
Can the rest of the team deliver?
It remains to be seen, but the Mets do have some really talented players and put together a very solid farm system with last year’s trades of David Robertson, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and others.
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