Edwin Diaz Aug 31, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) reacts after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

In their home opener on Friday, the New York Mets made a grand gesture to an injured star.

After the Mets had finished announcing the team’s starting lineup and player introductions for Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins, there was one last player left to introduce. A player that isn’t part of New York’s 26-man roster, though he was supposed to be.

“Fans, there’s still one player left to introduce,” Mets radio play-by-play announcer Howie Rose exclaimed. “Please welcome the 2022 National League Reliever of the Year — we hope he gets well real soon — Edwin Díaz.”

Díaz suffered a full tear of his patellar tendon after celebrating a win during the World Baseball Classic for his native Puerto Rico.  The terrible injury required surgery which likely will cost Díaz the entire 2023 season.

The MLB world reacted to the Mets’ awesome gesture, as the team sounded the trumpets for Diaz prior to its home opener.

“I will put my leg up for donation,” one Mets fan wrote.

Well played by the #Mets,” said Jim Cerny.

“I’m not a Mets fan and I would switch my leg for his just to hear those trumpets again this season!” says LordSportsPicks.

Some of the other reactions were a bit more colorful.

[New York Mets and The Comeback on Twitter]

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.