QUEENS — New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz threw off a mound during his bullpen session at Citi Field on Wednesday morning prior to his team’s series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“That’s good for his progression,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s got a good face… We’re taking information and feedback, what the testing shows, where his strength is, and where it needs to be to end up at this point. They’ve got to really like what’s been going on so far.”
Just one week ago, Diaz began partaking in “pitching-relative actions,” as the rehab from knee surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in March apparently exceeds the normal timeline for such an injury to heal.
While it was initially forecasted that Diaz would miss the entirety of the 2023 season, the 29-year-old right-hander almost immediately implored that he would be back for the latter portions of the campaign.
All signs currently point to Diaz making a legitimate push to get back on the mound in the final weeks, but Showalter and the Mets’ staff refuse to put a legitimate timetable on it.
“I got an idea but it’s just, ‘OK, does he meet a benchmark?'” Showalter began. “And then they do that a few times and they move to another thing… It’s a good progression, they’re on top of it, but it’s still a long way.”
Granted, the decision comes with a sizable conundrum. The Mets are out of the postseason picture to the point that it would be logical just to shut him down and have him ramp up baseball activities for a full 2024 season during the winter. But a return before the end of 2023 would be a just reward for Diaz’s commitment to the rehab process and offers the opportunity of clearing the mental hurdle of that initial return now rather than the start of a brand-new season where expectations should be higher.
“He’s used his time wisely. He’s working on other things,” Showalter said. “He’s been a guy that showed up [and done] everything you’ve asked of him and then some… He’s going to give himself every chance to be as good — I don’t know how you can be better than he was last year — but he’s chasing it.”
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Third baseman Mark Vientos is considered day-to-day after an MRI on Wednesday revealed wrist inflammation, but no structural damage.
The 23- struggled to find much consistency in his second major-league stint this season. He’s slashing just .195/.230/.288 (.518 OPS) with two home runs and 10 RBI in 37 games.
For more on Edwin Diaz, Mark Vientos, and the Mets, visit AMNY.com
