Edwin Diaz has a purpose in sight: He needs to pitch this season.
Whether or not his proper knee will cooperate is one other story, however up to now his rehab from a torn patellar tendon goes so easily that the Mets nearer is eying a late September return.
“The goal is I want to pitch this year,” Diaz stated Monday, talking to reporters for the primary time since April. “But I’ve got all the checkmarks to check off and we have to see what’s coming up.”
A typical timeline for a return is six-to-eight months. September would put the 29-year-old proper across the six-month mark. Diaz remains to be just a few weeks off from having to decide, however he hopes to hit sufficient rehab benchmarks to have the ability to return earlier than the ultimate sport of the season in October.
Diaz hit a significant benchmark Sunday when he threw his first out of doors bullpen. He didn’t face hitters, however he did throw off a mound to a catcher. It was the primary time he pitched in a state of affairs which may mimic a sport and got here via with none setbacks.
“I think because yesterday, the catcher was down and I was concentrating to make my pitches and try to throw like it was a game,” Diaz stated. “The other time I was just playing catch from the mound. Yesterday, I was trying to throw strikes to make my pitches. That’s why I call that my first bullpen off the rubber.”
The subsequent step can be dealing with hitters in reside batting follow.
Diaz underwent surgical procedure for the damage that occurred in March whereas he was enjoying for the Puerto Rican staff within the World Baseball Classic. It got here on the heels of his file five-year, $102 million contract. It was a devastating blow for a Mets staff that had title aspirations on the time however was pressured to desert them by the center of the summer time. Many of the Mets’ struggles will be attributed to the bullpen. The reduction points can’t be pinned on Diaz, particularly for the reason that issues are likely to lie extra within the center innings, however it left an already skinny bullpen even thinner.
The Mets are out of the race now, having dismantled the staff on the commerce deadline, which was unusual for Diaz to observe from the sidelines. Given that, the membership has not but determined whether or not or not they are going to deliver again the All-Star ought to he be wholesome sufficient to return. Any setbacks can be disastrous for the group and the main focus now could be on the longer term.
“We’ll get his opinion and see what feedback he’s getting physically,” stated supervisor Buck Showalter. “You can tell by his face that he’s pretty excited about where he is compared to where he could be. It’s just good that we haven’t had any setbacks with him in the process. He’s made the temptation to go faster — which we haven’t — because he has met everything.”
Diaz is prepared to do what’s finest for the staff, however permitting him to throw just a few innings this season might be a morale enhance for a better who is keen to comply with up a traditionally good season, and for a staff nonetheless grappling with what comes subsequent.
“I want to finish the season on a positive note,” Diaz stated. “I want to try to come back and help his team win this year, but if not, I will work out hard in the offseason to come ready next year.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Outfielder Starling Marte is in Philadelphia working with a bodily therapist to cope with the groin points which have plagued him since his offseason surgical procedure final fall. The operation was carried out final October in Philadelphia, however it’s unclear whether or not or not he’s working with the identical physician or medical group. He’s anticipated to be there via the top of the week.
The hope for a return in 2023 is dwindling. Marte performed via ache all yr and bringing him again for a meaningless month appears just a little pointless. However, the membership isn’t but able to say they’re shutting him down.
Marte is within the second yr of a four-year contract and can be a key piece of the 2024 staff ought to he be wholesome.
TRANSACTIONS
Right-hander Tyson Miller was claimed off waivers by his former staff in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. Tuesday, the Dodgers added him to their energetic roster. The Mets beforehand claimed the reliever off waivers Aug. 4 and designated him for task final week to clear house on the 40-man roster for right-hander Sean Reid-Foley.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com