Edwin Diaz could play one of the most pivotal roles on this year's Mets team if they want to win the division and make a playoff run, and he's looked like his old self so far in spring training camp.
His new teammate and fellow reliever Trevor May certainly thinks so.
"The guy is electric," May said during Wednesday's interview with Moose & Maggie. "I don't think anyone can deny that. He's just attacking guys right away. I think that's something with how he throws and how he approaches hitters, it's all about giving them your best stuff and giving them the fire."
Diaz was dealing the heat on Wednesday, pitching a perfect inning while picking up two strikeouts, flashing the elite stuff that made him an All-Star in 2018, when he led the league with 57 saves while posting a 1.96 ERA.
For May, when Diaz is at his best, he doesn't know many other pitchers that can reach his level.
"He's got that kind of stuff," May said. "There's maybe three guys like that in the whole major leagues, and he's one of them. We're seeing it really early on in camp. Looks like his arm is feeling good."
Diaz struggled so show that elite side in his first season with the Mets, allowing 58 hits in 58 innings and posting a 5.59 ERA, but he started to return to form in the shortened 2020 season, dropping his ERA down to a career-best 1.75 in a smaller sample size of 25.2 innings. But the strikeout stuff was certainly there, as Diaz fanned 50 batters last season, and May is looking forward to watching his new bullpen mate build off of that momentum in 2021.
"I think sometimes you can shy away from that stuff a little bit," May said. "He's got a really good slider, really good fastball, and if he can hit those three or four spots every time, there's not many hitters in this league that will feel good facing him."
Listen to May's full interview with Moose & Maggie below!
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