Edwin Diaz’s latest appearance at Citi Field was accompanied by a surprisingly optimistic outlook instead of the sound of sad trombones.
The All-Star closer, who was walking with crutches and had his right leg wrapped from ankle to thigh, left open on Wednesday the possibility of a late-season return to the Mets in his first comments since suffering a supposedly season-ending torn patellar tendon March 15 during the World Baseball Classic.
“We are working hard to see if I can come back as soon as possible,” Diaz said outside the clubhouse before the Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Padres. “Everything is going in the right direction. The doctors say I’m doing great, so I’m really happy.
“They want me to get my knee better first, and then we’ll see how I’m responding with my strength and all these things I have to do when I start throwing. If the tests come back good, I might throw this year.”
The sight of Diaz, 29, is supposed to be synonymous with blaring trumpets and the song “Narco” energizing the home crowd as he jogs from the bullpen.
A more somber tune was expected to follow an injured Diaz, but he has his eye on beating the typical eight-month recovery timeline and is dreaming of saving October wins.
“If we keep doing what we’re doing, if the knee keeps responding to the testing,” Diaz said, “then I have to start running, I have to get on the mound, I have to start throwing. If everything goes well, I think I can be back sooner than eight months.”
Diaz’s injury during a victory celebration reignited a controversy over whether MLB stars should participate in the WBC during spring training because of the season-altering risk.
The World Series-hopeful Mets were weakened by losing a closer who had 32 saves and pitched to a 1.31 ERA last season, earning a five-year, $102 million contract in free agency this past November.
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But Diaz has no regrets about playing for Puerto Rico and would do so again if asked for the 2026 WBC.
“People can get hurt at home or any place,” Diaz said. “It happened to be in the WBC. That’s part of the game. I wasn’t pitching, I was celebrating with my teammates. If I had the chance to play again for my country, yeah, I would do it.”
Diaz was hopping around the mound with teammates after closing out the win that advanced Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals of the tournament when he mysteriously went down.
On one hand, it was a fluke accident.
On the other, there are no celebrations in spring training games.
“No one hit me. I just fell down,” Diaz said. “When I saw my knee, I just thought it was dislocated. But as soon as I stood up, I couldn’t walk. I said, ‘Oh, something is wrong.’ ”
Diaz’s brother, Alexis, was among the many Puerto Rico teammates who couldn’t hide the devastation from his face. Alexis is a closer for the Reds and a possible in-season trade candidate.
“I saw him when all my teammates went to the training room to see if I was good,” Diaz said. “I was smiling but at the same time a little bit sad. He was crying and I started crying with him. He was saying, ‘That’s my fault, that’s my fault.’ I told him, ‘Be calm. I will be good.’ ”
It is Diaz’s first career stint on the injured list.
He received one of the loudest ovations from Mets fans during team introductions before the home opener last week — as Timmy Trumpet’s viral hit came out of hiding.
“That meant a lot,” Diaz said. “I didn’t know [an introduction] was coming until the day before. I was really happy to come and show the fans I’m doing good. I wanted to see them. They treat me really good.”
