PORT ST. LUCIE — Edwin Diaz got here into camp with extra muscle and extra confidence than ever. The 2024 season challenged the Mets nearer in methods he didn’t count on, however Diaz is all the time optimistic, particularly in terms of baseball.
Diaz didn’t understand that returning after lacking a whole season can be so troublesome. His physique wasn’t recovering the way in which it had in 2022 when he was the very best nearer in baseball. After recording the primary 4 saves of the season, Diaz began to battle, and the struggles quickly gave technique to an implosion. He blew 4 saves in Might, together with two in a row. He gave up 4 earned runs in only one/3 of an inning to the lowly Marlins in Miami, which upped his ERA to five.50.
Diaz was trustworthy about shedding his confidence throughout that stretch. By no means earlier than had he felt as if he couldn’t get high-leverage outs.
“I knew what kind of pitcher I was, and I know I can dominate, always,” Diaz mentioned. “But that moment, I was throwing everything and I was getting hit, so I knew I was doing something wrong.”
The Mets used Diaz in some low-leverage innings to attempt to rebuild his confidence. A shoulder impingement landed him on the injured record and Diaz used it as an opportunity to get a psychological refresh. When he returned in June, he pitched like his outdated self. However then got here the sport at Wrigley Discipline when he was ejected for sticky stuff and suspended for 10 video games.
Diaz pitched extra successfully within the second half, posting a 3.00 ERA with 10 saves in 27 innings. He discovered his rhythm, which was useful, however when the Mets put him again within the nearer position, it made all of the distinction. They trusted him, which helped him belief himself and belief his stuff.
Diaz placed on about 10 kilos of muscle over the winter, which he thinks will assist him recuperate extra successfully between outings and assist him rise up and down if the Mets want him to. He threw a bullpen earlier within the week with the objective of throwing 20 pitches, however threw 27 with ease.
Wednesday, he’ll throw reside batting observe for the primary time this spring. His pitch rely is constructed up and he feels good about his command.
Come recreation time, he’ll be able to let it fly.
“My goal is to throw at least 25 each of my live BPs,” he mentioned. “Then, when I start pitching in [Grapefruit League] games, I want to just out and compete. I don’t want to go in working on something, I just want to go out and compete because I do have a lot of work before going into the games, so when I get into games, we’ll treat those games like it’s the early season.”
QUICK HITTERS
– Proper-hander Griffin Canning threw reside batting observe getting up and down twice, whereas right-hander Paul Blackburn had one up. The 2 depth starters are the possible candidates for the fifth and sixth rotation spots, however they each want to come back by way of spring coaching wholesome and efficient.
With Canning, the Mets wish to see him change his pitch utilization and probably add one other one. His four-seam fastball charges poorly, however the Mets see potential together with his breaking pitches and like that he throws numerous strikes.
“We feel like we can help him with pitch usage,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned. “Maybe add a pitch or not use a pitch much. Those are some of the things that we’re discussing and presenting to him. Maybe some seam orientation there with the way he’s gripping the ball and things like that.”
– Well being is vital for Blackburn, who had surgical procedure to restore a cerebrospinal fluid leak in his again in October. Whereas the Mets are being cautious, Blackburn expects to be constructed up by Opening Day, and by going through hitters this early, he seems to be on observe to fulfill that objective. The bearded righty is engaged on his sinker with the hopes of utilizing it extra typically this season.
– Proper-hander Sean Reid-Foley practically drilled Francisco Lindor within the ribs with a excessive fastball that received away from him throughout reside BP on Tuesday. Lindor received out of the way in which in time whereas Reid-Foley apologized profusely to the shortstop.
