You won’t find a group less excited for the WBC than NY Mets fans

New York Mets fans are already feeling nervous about the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Multiple Mets have already been confirmed for the tournament, including Nolan McLean (United States), Clay Holmes (United States), Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico), and Mark Vientos (Nicaragua). The widespread belief is that $765 million man Juan Soto will also play for his native Dominican Republic, although Soto hasn't been officially confirmed.

Will it be cool to watch these guys in action before the MLB season? Sure, but the risk of injury is what far outweighs anything else in the minds of Mets fans, making the WBC an altogether unenjoyable entity for die-hard Mets fans in Queens.

Mets fans will have a tough time enjoying the World Baseball Classic

Mets fans are still scarred from watching Edwin Díaz get injured in 2023 during the WBC. Then again, Díaz's torn patellar tendon -- ending his 2023 MLB season before it began -- actually happened after a WBC game as he celebrated a victory over the Dominican Republic with Lindor and the rest of his Puerto Rican teammates.

This is a key detail for Mets fans to remind themselves of while they harbor fears about the likes of McLean and others putting themselves "at risk" during the 2026 WBC. Díaz's injury -- while terrible -- was a fluke. You can't blame the WBC for it, and it's actually more likely that a player would get hurt during Spring Training or an offseason workout than while celebrating after a WBC game.

The tragedy of that injury has stuck with Mets fans emotionally, but if they're able to step back and look at the situation rationally, it shouldn't make them despise the World Baseball Classic.

If playing in this tournament posed a serious risk to the careers of MLB players, way less of them would take part in it. Mets fans might need a bit more time to come to this realization, and that's understandable. The sting of Díaz's 2023 lost season still lingers and haunts some.

Indeed, another WBC injury to a key Met would be particularly heartbreaking as the team looks to turn over a new leaf in 2026. After a painful start to the offseason for fans, David Stearns' vision for the Mets is beginning to come into clearer focus, and more moves are expected.

There's some momentum gathering and some excitement being whispered in the far corners of Mets Nation. A negative outcome from the WBC would do much to derail this energy. The fears are real. Just keep your fingers crossed, and try to enjoy some high-level baseball.