The New York Mets activated right-hander Edwin Díaz from the injured list on Thursday and optioned left-hander Danny Young to Triple-A Syracuse. Díaz was initially placed on the injured list on May 29 due to a right shoulder impingement. The injury came amidst one of the worst stretches of his career, which included being removed from the closer’s role.
RHP Edwin Díaz has been reinstated from the 15-Day IL.
LHP Danny Young was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse following last night’s game.
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 13, 2024
But after an absence of just over two weeks, Díaz seems mentally and physically healthy and refreshed. New York desperately needs a vintage Díaz, as the bullpen struggled to close games in his absence.
New York Mets Activate Edwin Díaz From Injured List
The Mets and Díaz will both hope that a post-injured list stint could serve as a fresh start. In his last 10 appearances, Díaz produced a 9.58 ERA in 10 1/3 innings with four homers and several blown games.
During his struggles, Díaz allowed solid Barrel and Hard-Hit rates from opposing batters. Plus, his velocity was slightly down from his electric 2022 season. The Mets continued to publicly say that the velocity stemmed from Díaz missing all of 2023 with a knee injury and that it would bounce back.
No matter the level of truth behind the downplay, the Mets desperately need Díaz to return to an elite level. New York finished May around 10 games below .500 while losing games in soul-crushing fashion. It’s fair to say that if Díaz was average last month, let alone elite, the Mets would be right in the thick of postseason contention based on merit alone.
Instead, the team enters Thursday just 3 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot, despite being eight games below .500, thanks to a bad National League. However, the Mets play 17 games against teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race from now until the All-Star break.
“We’re going to need Diaz to be Edwin Diaz”
Carlos Mendoza says Diaz will return to the full-time closer role when he is activated off IL before tomorrow’s game pic.twitter.com/zvRlGLpWKt
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 12, 2024
The Mets know that any legitimate postseason hopes stem from a healthy and effective Díaz. Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that once activated from the injured list, Díaz will immediately claim the closer’s role.
“For us to make a run at this,” Mendoza said during his Wednesday press conference, “we’re going to need Díaz to be Edwin Díaz.”
If that happens, the narrative can quickly turn into the Mets buying at the trade deadline. But hope only goes so far, and the Mets will need to see actual improved production.
Photo Credit: © Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
