Edwin Díaz is among the Los Angeles Dodgers players participating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, serving as the closer for Team Puerto Rico.
It represents Díaz’s third time playing in the WBC and first since he suffered a devastating knee injury during the 2023 tournament. He ruptured his right patellar tendon while celebrating a win over the Dominican Republic that sent Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals.
Díaz underwent surgery the following day and missed the entire 2023 season, turning what should have been a joyous moment into a somber one.
With Puerto Rico hosting WBC games for the first time since 2013, Díaz said he didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to return to the team, via Katie Woo of The Athletic:
“As soon as I saw (Puerto Rico would be hosting), I knew my goal was to play in the WBC,” Díaz said.
Díaz has faced some criticism for deciding to play in the WBC again, but astutely pointed out that his freak injury wasn’t pitching-related and could have happened anywhere:
“I have only one response for that,” said Díaz. “I didn’t get hurt pitching. It was after the game. That could have happened to me anywhere. If I got hurt pitching, it’s different. But I was just trying to celebrate.”
Díaz is entering his first season with the Dodgers after signing a three-year, $69 million contract during the offseason. He is coming off an impressive 2025 season with the New York Mets that saw him collect 28 saves to go along with a 1.63 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings.
While Díaz is the only Dodgers player on Team Puerto Rico’s roster, Kiké Hernández has also spent time with the club as he continues to recover from left elbow surgery that could sideline him until the summer.
Edwin Díaz’s pitching stats in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Díaz has made two appearances with Team Puerto Rico so far, allowing only one hit and collecting five strikeouts over two scoreless innings.
Puerto Rico has gone 3-0 in pool play and already punched their ticket to the WBC quarterfinals, which begin this weekend.
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