(Port Saint Lucie) New York Mets stopper Edwin Diaz suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a win for his team at the World Baseball Classic (WBC), and is expected to miss the entire game. of the 2023 season.

Mets general manager Billy Eppler said Diaz will have surgery on Thursday. Without going into all the details, Eppler noted that the typical timeline for healing from such an injury is around eight months.

“There are cases where athletes have returned earlier, closer to six months,” Eppler told reporters.

“But these examples are more the exception than the rule,” he added.

Diaz, who will celebrate his 29th birthday on Wednesday, struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning in Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday. Victory guaranteed Puerto Rico a place in the quarter-finals.

As Diaz and his teammates jumped for joy on the infield section of the field, the right-handed pitcher collapsed before grabbing his right leg.

He left the field in a wheelchair.

Eppler said he spoke to Diaz on several occasions and noted that the right-handed pitcher was in “very good spirits.”

“He’s a resilient human being,” Eppler noted. “That’s why he’s the stopper he is. The guy does not let himself be disturbed. »

The Mets signed a five-year, $102 million contract — the most lucrative ever to a late-game specialist — after he had a spectacular campaign in 2022.

All player contracts are covered by insurance, through the CMB, which covers the duration of the player’s absence due to an injury occurring during the tournament.

Diaz was 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 35 chances with the Mets in 2022. He also struck out 118 in 62 innings last season.

He was invited to the All-Star Game for the second time and finished ninth for the Cy Young Trophy in the National League.

Diaz, who will celebrate his 29th birthday on Wednesday, struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning in Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday. Victory guaranteed Puerto Rico a place in the quarter-finals.

As Diaz and his teammates jumped for joy on the infield section of the field, the right-handed pitcher collapsed before grabbing his right leg.

He left the field in a wheelchair.