Edwin Diaz's injury is a reminder of how much Mets fans have embraced him

The New York Mets suffered a setback from one of the team's most relevant and influential players. The best closer in all of baseball in 2022, Edwin Diaz, suffered a knee injury during the celebration of Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

In an unprecedentedly sad event, Diaz suffered a full-thickness tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee. This injury projects a recovery time of six to eight months, removing Diaz from possibly any game this 2023. This devastating event for the Mets organization shows a point of change among fans of the team.

Mets closer Edwin Diaz went from scorned player to fan favorite

By the end of the 2018 season, Edwin Diaz had put up one of the best seasons a closer has put up in MLB history. At their highest peak, the Seattle Mariners decided to open the door of selling their reliever in order to attach the remainder of Robinson Canó's $120 million, five-year contract with him.

The Mets decided to go for the services of Edwin Diaz by absorbing and having to sell one of their top prospects and other players. The change criticized by fans from the beginning due to the high cost they incurred to acquire a closer produced a high level of stress and expectation in Diaz.

The Puerto Rican's first year in Queens was disastrous, posting by far his worst ERA, WHIP, and HR/9 of his career with seven blown saves. The criticism and contempt for Diaz were enormous, further supporting the argument that the trade could be the worst in the Mets' history.

Gradually and quietly, Edwin Diaz began to show more control of the mound, placing an excellent season in the 2020 short season and an average season in 2021 but with greater control of the home runs allowed, something that had greatly harmed Diaz. In 2022 he established himself as the best closer in baseball.

Diaz was appreciated by the fans thanks to his impact on the mound. He also became a unique entertainment in New York City and on television networks thanks to his awesome entrance with the song "Narco" by Jimmy Trumpet.

The evolution of Diaz and his adaptation to New York is worth admiring. His effort and hard work made him win the hearts of every Mets who, seeing the terrible injury he suffered, not only affected them as fans but as people. Today on his 29th birthday, we honor MLB's greatest closer hoping to see him pitch again soon and lead the Mets to a championship.