At age 18 he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 3rd round from the Caguas Military Academy.
MLB Career: Diaz spent three seasons in Seattle, making the big leagues in 2016. That year he saved 18 games going 0-4 with a 2.79 ERA. In 2017 he saved 34 games emerging as one of the AL's best closers.
In 2018 he had his best year with the Mariners going 0-4 with a league leading 65 saves, setting a
Mariners single season record & a personal career high. He also led the AL in games finished (57) with 124 strike outs in 73.1 innings pitched. He walked 17 & gave up five HRs. He won the Reliever of the Year award & the TSN Pitcher of the Year Award as well.2018 All Star: By the All Star break he already had 36 saves. He was named to his first All Star team & pitched in the 9th inning in the game in Washington DC. Although he gave up a two run HR to Scooter Gennett tying up the game, he earned the win as the AL went ahead in the 10th inning.
In the off season he was traded to the New York Mets along with Robinson Cano & $20 million in exchange for Jay Bruce, Jared Kelenic, Anthony Swarzak, Gerson Bautista & Justin Dunn.Mets Career: He made his Mets debut on Opening Day & collected his first Mets save in a 2-0 win over the Nationals in D.C. He collected a save the next day as well. In his first month of April, he collected eight saves & had only given up one run until April 29th.
In that game he took his first loss of the season when the Reds Jesse Winker hit a top of the 9th inning HR off him. On May 1st he came into a scoreless game with the Reds when Jose Iglesias hit a 9th inning HR to give him his second loss in the 1-0 loss. That month he collected six more saves reaching 13 by May 26th.
On May 25th he blew his first save of the year, coming in a 5-4 loss to Detroit. On May 29th he came into a game at Dodger Stadium with the Mets ahead 8-5. He served up back-to-back HRs off Joc Pederson & Max Muncy, then back-to-back doubles, a single a walk & a walk off sac fly to Alex Verdugo.
In June he blew two more saves, taking a loss to the Cardinals on June 13th & then on June 27th,
the Phillies got him for five runs, including two HRs with a walk off by Jean Segura. After a save in the subway series, he gave up another five runs to the Phillies taking a loss on July 5th. At this point his ERA was over five.Thru July he had recorded 24 saves but had blown five save opportunities & already had six losses with a 5.14 ERA. The Mets had been 14.5 games out of first in id July at 40-51, they would make a nice run winning 15 of 16 games into mid-August inching near a wild card spot. They would miss the playoffs finishing with a 86-76 record.
In the final two months, Diaz would record just two saves as he couldn't be used in those situations with his ineffectiveness. He had given up 15 HRs in the 9th inning & almost twice as many hits than he had the previous year. His ERA was 4.5 runs higher than the last season & he had given up twice as many runs. Diaz first season in New York was a disaster. He was 2-7 with 26 saves & a 5.59 ERA. He struck out 99 batters & walked 22 in just 58 innings pitched in 66 games.
In the Covid shortened 2020 season Diaz improved, he went to 2-1 with six saves & a 1.75 ERA.
2021: In the Mets up & down 2021 season, he would improve in his first full season back after the 2019 horror.
On April 8th he saved a 3-2 win over the Marlins with a scoreless 9th. Two days later he gave up two runs in a 3-0 Mets loss to the Marlins. After two more saves, he took a loss on April 22nd when the Cubs walked off in the 10th inning at Wrigley Field on Jason Heyward's base hit.In May he collected seven saves but had two outings where he gave up two runs or more not getting a decision. On June 1st he blew a save in Ariona as Josh Reddick hit a walk off double in the 10th inning.
On June 23rd, he relieved Corey Oswalt in the 8th inning with two on & the Mets ahead of the Braves 6-3. He retired the side & earned a five out save. He was used twice for four out save opportunities that month.
On June 26th Diaz pitched a scoreless 9th behind 3-2 to the Phillies. The Mets came back with two runs as Luis Guillorme walked with the bases loaded & Michael Conforto's line outscored Billy McKinney with the walk off run giving Diaz his second win.
On July 7th he earned his third win as Jeff McNeil's single off Brent Sutter won the game in walk off fashion.Diaz had a rough stretch around the All-Star break, blowing three straight opportunities. He had four blown saves with a 3-4 record but would not blow another chance for almost two months. From July 23rd to September 3rd, he recorded nine saves & a victory allowing just two earned runs in 16 innings with 23 strike outs. He collected two or more strike outs seven times in those 15 appearances.
At the end of July the Mets were in first place up by five games. That all changed as they went 9-
19 in August dropping five games back & never recovered.From September 3rd thru the 8th, Diaz had a rough three games, giving up five earned runs in just two innings. The Nationals got him for two runs twice, where he earned a win & a loss, the Marlins beat him in a 10th inning walk off on a Bryan De La Cruz single.
On September 12th he earned a subway series save, striking out two batters in the Mets 7-6 win at Citi Field. On September 19th he reached the 30 save mark for the first time with the Mets, with a save in a 3-2 win over the Phillies.
For the 2021 season Diaz was 5-6 with 32 saves. He struck out 8 batters walked 23 in 62.2 innings pitched making 63 appearances finishing off 51 games. He allowed just three HRs 12 less that his 2019 season.2022 Mets Wild Card Season: On Opening Day, Diaz came on to close out the Mets 5-1 win over the Nationals. On April 12th he earned his first save, striking out the side in a 2-0 win over the Phillies in Philadelphia.
On April 22nd, he served up a 9th inning HR to the Diamondbacks Daulton Varsho, tying up the game in Arizona. In the top of the 10th, Starling Marte's infield single scored Jeff McNeil in what was the winning run earning Diaz his first win.
Mets Combined No Hitter: On April 29th, Diaz came into a 3-0 Mets lead over the Phillies at Citi Field. On that night Tylor Megill had pitched five hitless innings. Drew Smith 1.1 hitless innings, Joley Rodriguez one hitless inning & Seth Lugo 0.2 hitless innings. Diaz came on & struck out the side retiring Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos & then JT Realmuto to finish off the second no hitter in Mets history.
Diaz would save five more games & go month before blowing another save.
On May 19th the Cardinals got him when Paul Goldschmit's infield single tied up a game in which the Mets went ahead to win in the 10th on Pete Alonso's Walk off HR. In his next outing on May 22nd, he collected two strike outs & saved his tenth game of the year.
On May 24th, he had his worst outing of the year. Entering the game in the bottom of the 9th in San Francisco, the Mets had a 12-11 lead over the Giants. Diaz gave up four singles & a base hit with Brandon Crawford's Walk off single to left being the game winner giving Diaz his first loss. It turned out to be his only loss of the season. He would convert 22 straight saves through the end of the season.
From there he really went on a roll & became a dominating force out of the bullpen. He would close out May in two Mets victories over the Phillies, first with his 11th save & then on May 29th earn an extra inning win on Eduardo Escobar's Walk off double.
NL Reliever of the Month Awards for June-July & August: In June Diaz would allow just
one earned run in 9.2 innings of work in ten appearances, collecting five saves as well as a hold, earning him the Reliever of the Month Award.In June 12th in a big series in Anaheim, he came on in the 8th inning with a runner on & one out, the Mets holding a 3-1 lead over the Angels. He relieved Seth Lugo & struck out Mike Trout & after walking Anthony Rendon he struck out Jared Walsh to end the jam. He then came back in the 9th inning & struck out the side for the save.
It was the first time of the year manager Buck Schowalter asked him for a five out save & he responded in a big way.
In a late June weekend series in South Florida, he collected saves in the first two games. He closed out June with 16 saves & a 2.08 ERA on the season.
In July the strike outs kept racking up, in the seven games leading up to the break, he struck two batters or more each time. In two of those games, he struck out the side in order & had eight games where fanned three or more batters. By the break he had struck out 75 of 145 batters he faced, he was 2-1 with 19 saves & a 1.69 ERA, the most dominating closer in the league.2022 All Star: Diaz was selected to the All-Star team along with Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso & Starling Marte representing the Mets. He did not pitch in the NL's 3-2 loss at Dodger Stadium.
On July 16th the first game after the break, he recorded his 20th save, in an extra inning Mets win at Wrigley Field. Subway Series: On July 26th in the subway series at Citi Field he collected a four out save, as he entered the game in the 8th inning with a runner on & two outs relieving Adam Ottavino. Diaz struck out Joey Gallo to end the inning. In the 9th he gave up a single but struck out three more batters to earn his 22nd save.
Overall, in the month of July he did not allow an earned run in 11.1 innings of work in eleven appearances, with 25 strike outs as well, earning him his second straight Reliever of the Month Award.
On August 4th, he had a two inning save in a 6-4 win over the Braves at Citi Field. He struck out three batters & then three games later in the series finale he struck out the side in the Mets 5-2 in over the Braves for his 26th save.MLB Brothers: When the Reds came to town in early August he & his brother Alex of Cincinnati
came out to greet each other at home plate before the game. Their parents were in attendance wearing split Mets / Reds jerseys.
200th Career Save: On August 13th he earned his 200th career save, coming in an exciting 1-0 win over the Phillies at Citi Field. In the game he issued two walks, the first walks he had issued in the last 50 batters. It was his 27th save of the year with a 1.35 ERA.
On August 21st he allowed his first earned run in two months, although he still collected a save
(28) in a wild 10-9 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, where the Mets put up three in the 9th inning.In August he won his third straight reliever of the month Award giving up one earned run in 10.2 innings with 16 strike outs, six saves, a win & a hold.
Timmy Trumpet: Diaz entrance music was "Narco" by the Australian musician Timmy Trumpet. The musician came to Citi Field for his first baseball game & performed that song live that August.
On September 16th he notched his 30th save of the year in a win at Pittsburgh. In the disastrous series in Atlanta where the Mets were swept by the Braves, essentially losing the NL Eastern title which came down to a tie but going to the Braves because they had won one more game head-to-head, Diaz finished off a Mets loss on October 2nd.
On October 4th he recorded his final save of the year in a 4-2 win over the Nationals.For the Mets 2022 wild card season, Diaz was 3-1 with 32 saves (4th in the NL) & 1.31 ERA. He saved 32 games in 35 opportunities.
He struck out 118 batters in 62 innings pitched, walking just 18 in 61 appearances, finishing off 49 games (3rd most in the NL). He was named the 2022 NL Reliever of the Year as well as TSN Pitcher of the Year
2022 Post Season: He made two appearances in the Mets wild card series loss to the Padres, allowing no runs on two hits with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. In the offseason, the Mets signed him with a five-year $102 million deal.
Injury: During the 2023 WBC he was in injured after celebrating a win for Puerto Rico. He will miss the entire 2023 season. The Mets suffer the worst tragedy of this nonsense tournament which puts players at risks taking them away from Spring Training & the actual teams that pay them!
2024 Mets Wild Card Season: On March 30th, Diaz made his return after having not pitched at the big-league level in 17 months. After retiring the first two batters he gave up a base hit to the Brewers Brice Turang who went on to steal second & third base, but Diaz struck out Jackson Chourio to end the game, which was a 7-5 loss.
On April 5th, he notched his first save, from April 5th to April 15th he earned four straight saves.
On April 29th, Diaz came into a 1-1 tie with the Cubs, in the 9th inning, he served up what was the game winning HR to Christopher Morel.
From May 5th to May 25th, Diaz would blow four of five save opportunities, resulting in three Mets losses. Overall, in that time he gave up nine runs in 7.1 innings for a 11.05 ERA in eight games. Diaz lost his role as the Mets closer, although the Mets lost 15 of 19 that month & there wasn't much need for one anyway. This was the Mets worst point of the season as it looked like a long miserable road ahead.
Suspended for Stick Substance Violation: June continued to be a nightmare for Diaz, he spent some time on the IL then was suspended for having a sticky substance on his pitching hand.
On July 23rd, coming in to attempt to close out a game with the Cubs, he came onto the field, then before throwing a pitch was quickly ejected when his glove & hands failed an umpire's examination for sticky substances. Diaz was suspended for ten games. In this time the Mets were starting to win more ballgames.
On July 6th, he returned & recorded his 8th save of the season, his first save in almost three weeks. On July 7th he blew a one run 8th inning lead in Pittsburgh, giving up a two-run single to the Pirates Nick Gonzales. Francisco Lindor bailed him out with a two run HR giving Diaz a win.
From there things got good & the Mets winning certainly helped out. From July 9th to August 21st
Diaz was 2-0 with six saves, posting a 1.54 ERA, notching 18 strike outs in 11.2 innings.
On August 28th, in a big series at Arizona with the Mets battling the Diamondbacks for the second & third wild card spots, Diaz came on in the bottom of the 8th inning with the Mets ahead 5-4. He relieved Phil Maton with one on & two outs, after loading the bases with two walks he served up a grand slam HR to Corbin Carroll leading to the Mets devastating loss.
But the next day, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza made a bold move bringing in Diaz in the bottom of the 9th inning of a 3-2 Mets lead in Arizona. Seeing his manager still had confidence in him, Diaz struck out the first two batters he faced & retired Jake McCarthy on a pop up to end the game. Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen later felt this was one of the biggest moments of the Mets season.
Diaz entered September at 5-3 with 15 saves & a 4.08 ERA. On September 9th in Toronto, Diaz earned his 17th save.
On September 11th, the Mets were held hitless thru eight innings by the Blue Jays Bowden Francis.
They erupted for six runs in the top of the 9th inning led by HRs from Francisco Lindor & Francisco Alvares (three run blast) as well as sac fly RBI's from Pete Alonso & Starling Marte.
In the 9th Ryne Stanek loaded the bases & Diaz came on to record the final out, getting Nathan Lukes to fly out to end the game.
On September 15th, in another big series, this one in Philadelphia, Diaz served up a walk off base hit to JT Realmuto. When the Phillies came to Citi Field, he finished off the September 19th loss then earned saves in back-to back games as the Mets took three of four, keeping them in the wild card hunt.
Two Inning Save: On September 22nd, he pitched two innings for the second time on the season, recording six outs, it was also his 20th save of the season.
Mets Clinch Playoff Spot: On September 30th, the Mets played a double header in Atlanta with
each team needing a win to gain a playoff berth as the second & third wild cards. In the first game, the Mets were down 3-0 thru seven innings,
In the top of the 8th they put up six runs, with a Brandon Nimmo two run HR & RBI hits from Francisco Alvarerz, Francisco Lindor, Jose Iglesias & a sac fly RBI form Mark Vientos. They entered the bottom of the 8th with a 6-3 lead.
Phil Maton put two on & had two outs, when Carlos Mendoza called Diaz for a four out save. Diaz walked Micael Harris then gave up a three-run double to Ozzie Albies, blowing the lead & hurting the chances for a playoff berth.
But the 2024 Mets never gave up & the comeback kids did it again, led by Francisco Lindor's two run HR off the Braves Pierce Johnson, the Mets won the game & earned the spot in the post season. No one was more thankful to Lindor than Edwin Diaz.
He came on & closed it out in the 9th for a four out save. From September 21st to September 30th, Diaz pitched more than one inning in three of four appearances.
For 2024, Diaz was 6-4 with 20 saves posting a 3.52 ERA. He struck out 84 batters his lowest
career total besides the pandemic season, walked 20 in 53.2 innings. Edwin made 54 appearances & finished off 40 games.
2024 Post Season- NLWC Series: Diaz was the closer for the posts season, although fans were holding their breath every time he came in.
In the final game of the NLWC series in Milwaukee, Jose Butto gave up two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning & Diaz came in relief. He walked Brice Turang & Blake Perkins, allowed two stolen bases but got out of the jam striking out William Contreras.
In the top of the 9th, Francisco Lindor walked & Brandon Nimmo singled, then Pete Alonso hit a three run HR off Devin Williams leading the Mets & Diaz to victory. The Mets advanced to the NLDS.
2024 NLDS: In the NLDS win over the Phillies, Diaz made two appearances.
In Game #2 he entered the game in the bottom of the 8th in Philadelphia with a 4-3 lead. But Diaz walked Bryce Harper & gave up a base hit to Nick Castellanos. This was one of his bad days, as he now gave up a two-run triple to Bryson Scott.
The Mets came back with two runs in the 9th but fell short 7-6 with Diaz getting a blown save.
Diaz did not appear in the Game #3 Mets win but closed out the series finale Game #4 win.
Not without drama, as he started the inning walking the first two batters putting the tying run up to bat with two on & no one out.
But as Mets fans were holding their breath, Diaz struck out Kody Clemmens, got Brandon Marsh to fly out then struck out Kyle Schwarber to end the game. Diaz got his first save of the 2024 post season & the Mets advanced to their first NLCS since 2015.
2024 NLCS: In the NLCS loss to the Dodgers, Diaz made three appearances. In Game #2 at Dodger Stadium, he earned his second post season save, striking out three batters in the four out save.
In Game #5 he finished up the Mets 12-6 win at Citi Field, then finished off the Game #6 loss in LA.
In the 2024 post season, Edwin Diaz made six appearances going 1-0 with one save & one blown save. He gave up three runs on four hits, struck out 13 & walked seven in 8.2 innings.Career Stats: In his eight-year career Diaz is 22-33 with 225 saves, posting a 3.00 ERA. He has 741 strike outs with 161 walks in 453 innings pitched in 458 appearances, finishing off 347 games.
Family: In 2019 after being together for seven years, Edwin & his wife Nashaly Mercado were married. Together they have two children & live in Puerto Rico in the off season.
