Díaz family celebrates Edwin, Alexis with 'Meds' jerseys

NEW YORK -- The Díaz brothers have been making a habit of sharing the field during this 2022 season, and they have the whole family along for the ride.

Edwin Díaz -- the older brother and the Mets’ All-Star closer -- and Alexis Díaz -- the younger brother and a breakout rookie reliever for the Reds -- shared the field for the first time as Major Leaguers on July 4 in Cincinnati, where they exchanged lineup cards before the game at Great American Ball Park. About 10 members of their family were in attendance for the Fourth of July contest, with their father, mother and sister among them.

But when the Reds came to Citi Field this week for a series against the Mets, the Díaz family decided to go bigger and bring 50 members of the family from Puerto Rico to New York. And they came dressed for the occasion.

Split into two cheering sections behind both the Reds' and Mets’ dugouts, the family donned special combo jerseys with the two brothers on them on Tuesday night, when Edwin and Alexis once again exchanged lineup cards with the umpires on the field before New York claimed a 6-2 win.

The “Meds” jerseys have photos of Edwin and Alexis on the front, with Edwin under the Mets’ “M” on the right half of the jersey and Alexis under the Reds’ “eds” on the left half.

It’s an idea that came to their parents, Edwin Díaz Sr. and Beatrice, courtesy of another family of Major League brothers. When Edwin pitched for the Mariners from 2016-18, Kyle Seager was one of his teammates. And at the time, his brother, Corey Seager, played for the Dodgers. When the two Seagers competed in a contest in Seattle, the Díaz parents saw the family wearing jerseys with both Kyle and Corey featured on them.

“And I said, ‘When Alexis gets to the big leagues, I’m going to buy those jerseys with Edwin and Alexis,’” said Edwin Díaz Sr. “And that dream came true.”

Díaz Sr. and Beatrice requested some help from friends back home in Puerto Rico in order to make the custom jerseys with their sons’ faces on them. They were completed with about a week to spare before the family was set to travel to N.Y., with uncles, aunts, grandparents, nieces and nephews all flying in from the small town in P.R. where they live in order to see Edwin and Alexis together in the big leagues.

This series presents the first chance for the Díaz brothers to take the mound in the same game, since Alexis was on the injured list when Edwin pitched at Great American Ball Park on July 6. Neither of them pitched in the first two games of the series.

“It’s emotional. I mean, it’s your brother, you happen to both be in the Major Leagues, but then you’re together on the same field," said Reds manager David Bell, who played in the big leagues at the same time as his brother Mike. “The best part of it is not playing against each other, it’s actually crossing paths in a busy Major League schedule where you get lucky and your teams play each other and you get to spend time together.”

The 28-year-old Edwin has 26 saves, a 1.39 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings for the Mets, while the 25-year-old Alexis has four saves, a 1.94 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings for the Reds.

When the Díazes stood on opposite sides of home plate, shook hands with the umpires and then embraced each other, the cameras turned to Edwin Díaz Sr. and Beatrice in the stands. The father raised his arms above his head in celebration. The mother waved to the crowd, taking her own video of the moment.

“This was very emotional for me, to have the privilege to have both of my kids that I always was dreaming of playing in the big leagues, having them play against one another,” Beatrice said. “Even though it was the second time, I felt the same emotion and started tearing up.”

If the family has its way, there will be plenty more opportunities for Edwin and Alexis to share the field as their MLB careers continue. And if they do, the Díazes will always know exactly what to wear.

“It’s a blessing from God. The family is very happy,” Edwin Díaz Sr. said. “They started playing at 5, 6 years old, and the dream is they will be a Major League player -- and they accomplished that dream. We don’t have words to explain how proud we are.”