The World Baseball Classic is an event that many baseball fans absolutely love. However, there is certainly an argument as to whether it is worth the risk of playing for MLB stars, especially after the disastrous injury suffered by New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz.
Diaz suffered an extremely unfortunate injury in Wednesday’s win over the Dominican Republic. While celebrating his successful outing to close the game, he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee.
MLB stars Mike Trout and Mookie Betts were asked about Diaz’s injury along with their general feeling about the World Baseball Classic on Thursday. While both clearly felt for Diaz, they added that they have had a great time participating for the United States national team.
"That could happen to anybody at any time. I don't try to place blame on the WBC, that's just a freak accident."
Mookie Betts and Mike Trout on Edwin Díaz's injury and their feelings on the World Baseball Classic: pic.twitter.com/97qXgcW7CY
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 16, 2023
“This is the funnest experience I have ever had on the baseball field,” said Mike Trout. “To represent my country, it has been a blast. There is risk involved, but you are still playing baseball in spring training. Being a part of this atmosphere is special.”
Betts largely echoed Trout’s sentiments, offering his condolences for Diaz but loving the WBC experience.
“That can happen to anybody at any given time,” Betts said on Diaz’s injury. “I wouldn’t try and place blame on the WBC for this. It is a freak accident that could happen to anyone. To echo what Mike said, this has been so much fun. I encourage everyone watching to come join and come play.”
Diaz’s injury was obviously awful, but as Trout and Betts said it is something that was impossible to predict. And it definitely just as easily could have happened in a spring training game.
It is absolutely a good thing that these stars are in favor of playing in the WBC moving forward, and are even encouraging others to do so as well.
