Francisco Lindor was squatted down on the infield in Miami on Wednesday night as his Mets and World Baseball Classic teammate Edwin Diaz fell to the ground in obvious pain, before having to be taken off the field in a wheelchair.
The injury, later determined to be season-ending due to a patellar tendon tear in his right knee, sparked further criticism of the WBC by many fans, who believe major league players should focus on the teams that cut their paychecks to prepare for the more important MLB season.
Asked about that debate by ESPN's Marly Rivera, Lindor offered his sympathy for Mets fans, but also assured that playing in the WBC is incredibly meaningful for himself and his Puerto Rican teammates, including Diaz.
More Lindor: "It is the dream of every Puerto Rican ballplayer to wear Puerto Rico's colors and to represent our country. And not only Puerto Ricans, but every player in the WBC considers being here the ultimate honor..." https://t.co/a1HaqiwPJk
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) March 16, 2023
"I understand how Mets fans are hurting," Lindor said. "But while for so many people the regular season is what counts, playing in the WBC means just as much to all of us.
"It is the dream of every Puerto Rican ballplayer to wear Puerto Rico's colors and to represent our country. And not only Puerto Ricans, but every player in the WBC considers being here the ultimate honor."
Such has been the sentiment from multiple teams at the WBC in the wake of Diaz's injury. Team USA superstars Mike Trout and Mookie Betts said the same after their game on Wednesday night, with Trout saying the WBC has been the most fun he has had on a baseball field, and Betts imploring others to join the team for future events.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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