When the Mets acquired Edwin Diaz four years ago, they were trading for a lights-out closer who had 57 saves, 124 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings, and a 1.96 ERA for Seattle in 2018.
He hasn’t quite been that good yet as a Met – although he did have a 1.75 ERA in the truncated 2020 season – but after posting a 1.78 ERA, 17 saves, and 70 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings over his first 36 appearances, he is headed to the All-Star Game for the first time since that 2018 season.
“I’m really happy. It’s a personal goal, and I’m happy to go to L.A. and represent our team,” Diaz said Sunday. “It means a lot because my Mets career didn’t start the way I wanted. But I’ve been able to get back on track and this year I made the All-Star team.”
Diaz has struck out more than half of the batters he’s faced this year (70 of 139), and that total has rung up almost two-thirds of the outs he’s recorded (70 of 106).
Finally, 3 ½ years in, he’s once again the guy the Mets traded for, and the All-Star nod solidifies that return to form.
“I think with this team, when I get into the game and get the big outs I prove to them that’s the guy the Mets traded for,” he said. “This proves that at some point they traded for an All-Star.”
Diaz is a closer but with five relievers among the 12 on the initial NL staff, he’s not guaranteed the ninth inning. If he had his druthers, though, he wants to be in there at some point with the best of the best.
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“I hope to face the three best hitters in the American League,” he smiled. Maybe I can face [Aaron] Judge. Who else made it? [Yordan] Alvarez, [Shohei] Ohtani? That would be awesome.”
Alvarez and Ohtani, both entered as designated hitters, likely won’t be in the game at the same time – but perhaps, if Ohtani and Judge hit in the top three like they do for their respective teams, two out of three early in the game ain’t bad?
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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