Mets Former Closer Will Undergo Elbow Surgery As Dodgers Lose Edwin Diaz For Months

Mets Former Closer Will Undergo Elbow Surgery As Dodgers Lose Edwin Diaz For Months

The New York Mets have a new closer, Devin Williams, who’s not exactly a fan favorite these days. Their old closer, however, just caught an especially tough break with the news that Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Edwin Diaz will have surgery on his right arm for loose bodies in his elbow, with the news breaking via an ESPN report that was sourced by Alden Gonzalez.

Diaz recently experienced velocity issues as his fastball dropped to 92 mph, according to multiple reports. The closer insisted it was something that happened to him every spring, but now the Dodgers have placed him on the 15-day injured list, adding in a statement that he’d be back “during the second half of the season.”

Diaz’s initial performances corresponded with his drop in velocity, and yesterday he gave up three runs without recording an out against the Colorado Rockies. He had four saves and ten strikeouts, but the closer’s ERA was up to 10.50.

"Obviously, we all saw the stuff last night, and it set up red flags," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Diaz's Sunday performance. "After the game, he had a conversation with our training staff, and felt that he had some elbow discomfort. ... We just wanted to be proactive, and felt that it was smart to get him an MRI."

The good news for Diaz and the Dodgers, according to Robert, was that there is was no ligament damage present in Diaz’s imaging, so the injury is limited to those loose bodies. The surgery will take place in LA.

"It was the first time he felt it," Roberts said of the discomfort. "Not to make it about by myself, but I had that same surgery at the end of my career. ... So, I can actually relate to what he's going through. ... It's unfortunate."