Alexis Diaz experienced a rollercoaster of emotions during the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami, where he was sobbing on the field after watching his brother, Mets All-Star closer Edwin Diaz, go down with a potentially serious injury.
The Cincinnati Reds pitcher burst into tears as Diaz was removed from the field in a wheelchair after he was injured during Team Puerto Rico’s postgame celebration following a 5-2 victory over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.
The WBC was a special game for the brothers, who never got the chance to play together professionally.
They were seen hugging after Diaz struck out Teoscar Hernandez to secure the win that eliminated the tournament favorite, D.R.
Earlier this week, Diaz told ESPN that the Pool D matchup “will be like Game 7 of the World Series” for Puerto Rico.
Diaz — who re-signed with the Mets in November on a record-setting deal for five years and $102 million — will undergo an MRI exam on Thursday to determine the severity of the damage.
Diaz suffered the right leg injury after the game while celebrating with his teammates on the field.
The Puerto Rico players were seen jumping together in a circle before the mood turned somber when Diaz collapsed at their feet.
Diaz waved to the sold-out crowd of 36,025 at LoanDepot Park as he was escorted off the field in a wheelchair.
Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina said he wasn’t sure what had happened when Diaz first went down.
“I didn’t see it right away,” Molina said. “I was hugging our coaches in the dugout, and when we looked up, Edwin was on the ground. I didn’t know. I didn’t know how to act, I didn’t know what to say.
“It caught me by surprise. It sucks. When you see a guy that works so hard like Edwin — when you see him on the ground like that, it’s just sad.”
Puerto Rico center fielder Enrique Hernández added that the environment inside the locker room after the win and Diaz’s injury was “quiet.”
According to ESPN, multiple sources feared the injury could keep Diaz out for a significant period.
Last year, Diaz helped lead the Mets to a 101-win season after he struck out 118 batters and walked 18 over 62 innings posting a 1.31 ERA.
Without Diaz, the Mets’ chances at a World Series title — which would be their first since 1986 — take a hit.
Team Puerto Rico will advance to a quarterfinal game against Pool C winner Mexico on Saturday.
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