New York Mets Closer Diaz Hopes to Pitch This Season

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz is hoping to be able to pitch this season.

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

He's on the right track.

New York Mets injured closer Edwin Diaz threw his first bullpen on Sunday for the first time since undergoing surgery for a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in March.

When speaking with reporters, Diaz sounded optimistic about his rehab and said his goal is to pitch this season, even if It's just one or two appearances.

“The goal is, I want to pitch this year, but I’ve got all these checkmarks to check off,” Diaz said. “We have to see what’s coming up.

“As soon as I got the surgery, they said the recovery time is 6-8 months, and my thought was be ready for six months and I’m working on that.”

Although Diaz had been playing catch prior to Sunday, his recent session was "like a game" with a catcher down in a stance.

Diaz said he was aiming to hit 93-95 mph and “I was hitting it easy.”

“We’re feeling great, the progress has been perfect,” Diaz said. “We are checking a lot of boxes, and we feel really good right now.”

“Our steps right now, I threw my first bullpen [Sunday] and I feel great. If it responds really good, we’ve gotta keep going to see how it feels the next couple days.”

Diaz had a spectacular year with the Mets last season, making the All-Star team, finishing in the Top 10 in the Cy Young voting, and posting a 1.31 ERA, 32 saves and 17.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Diaz tore his patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating during the World Baseball Classic. The Mets have sorely missed his presence in the ninth inning this year.

Diaz says the toughest thing for him this season has been sitting on the outside and watching his team without being able to pitch.

“Sitting outside and watching the team play, I want to be there with them closing games in the ninth,” he said.

“My goal is to come back as soon as I can.”