World Baseball Classic: Mets get one step closer Edwin Daz injures his knee while celebrating with Puerto Rico and must leave in a wheelchair

Puerto Rico’s elimination victory over the Dominican Republic was met with emotional upheaval immediately following the game on Wednesday.
Edwin Daz of the New York Mets, who closed out the game to send Puerto Rico to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, had to be wheeled off the field after injuring his knee while celebrating the victory with his teammates.
Some of the jubilant Puerto Rican players were openly crying as Daz sat on the mound with his head in his hands. His brother, Cincinnati Reds reliever Alexis Daz, was among those present.
The Mets announced an hour later that Daz had injured his right knee and would undergo imaging on Thursday.

From here, both the Mets and Puerto Rico can only hold their breath. After a career season in which he posted a 1.31 ERA with 32 saves, a 0.839 WHIP, and 118 strikeouts in 62.0 innings, Daz was a huge figure for both teams.
That performance in 2022 earned Daz his second career All-Star selection as well as the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award. He also gained popularity for his entrance ritual, which included the song “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet.
After the season, Daz agreed to a five-year, $102 million contract extension with the Mets, who are expected to compete in the National League again. The deal is the most lucrative in MLB history for a reliever.
Before his injury, Daz looked the part for Puerto Rico, striking out all three Dominican batters in the ninth inning to seal a 5-2 win in the de facto elimination game and advance Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals. His current situation may cast a pall over the entire World Baseball Classic.