Díaz: 'I think I can be back' this season

NEW YORK -- It was not long after doctors prescribed Edwin Díaz an eight-month regimen of rest, rehab and ramp-up that the Mets’ closer began considering how to defy that timeline.

Speaking publicly on Wednesday morning for the first time since tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee on March 15 during the World Baseball Classic, Díaz offered hope that he can return to pitch for the Mets this season.

“If everything goes well,” Díaz said, “I think I can be back sooner than that eight months.”

For Díaz, first things first: Before considering a return in September or October, he must work his surgically repaired knee back into shape. He’s still early in the rehab process, training daily with physical therapists at Citi Field to strengthen his knee. Once the first phase of that process is complete, Díaz must begin walking without crutches, then graduate to jogging and running. Only after checking those boxes can Díaz think about playing catch, returning to a mound and, eventually, pitching in games.

In the interim, Díaz has been performing resistance exercises to keep his arm strong in the absence of a throwing program. He has faith in the rehab regimen the Mets have set out for him, while understanding the strong possibility that he won’t be fully healed until November.

“Everything is going in the right direction right now … and the doctors say I’m doing great,” Díaz said. “So I’m really happy.

“The recovery is eight months. Some people do it before. Some people do it after. As of right now, I’m just looking forward to getting my knee better and trying to come as soon as possible.”

When Díaz tore the tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic on the field in Miami, he looked down at his knee and initially thought it was dislocated. As his teammates gathered around him and Díaz attempted to stand, he realized he could not put weight on it.

In the clubhouse, Mets physician Dr. James Carr was on hand to diagnose Díaz with a likely patellar tendon tear. He instructed Díaz to receive an MRI the next morning and to undergo surgery immediately if the tear was confirmed. By acting quickly, Díaz avoided a potentially longer recovery.

Since that time, Díaz has remained mostly private, confining himself to back rooms at the Mets’ Spring Training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and more recently at Citi Field. The notable exception occurred on Opening Day, when Díaz hobbled out of the dugout on crutches and acknowledged a sold-out crowd, as “Narco” -- his popular entrance music -- blared from the PA system.

“That meant a lot,” Díaz said. “I didn’t know it was coming until the day before. I was really happy to come and show the fans I’m doing good. I want to see them.”

With Díaz sidelined, David Robertson has assumed primary closing duties for the Mets. Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley are also ninth-inning options, though none of them can echo the dominance of Díaz, who electrified baseball last season with a 1.31 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 62 innings. Mets officials understand that Díaz is not truly replaceable, just as they know even if Díaz does return this season, he could be limited or less dominant.

Here in April, a month after his injury, all Díaz can do is continue rehabbing in the hopes of making his optimism a reality.

“As of right now, my knee is doing great,” Díaz said. “[The trainers] are really happy. So we are in a good direction for that.”