*This content was translated by AI.
Even the "all-time absurd injury" did not dampen patriotism. Edwin Diaz (32, LA Dodgers), who suffered a serious knee rupture during the victory ceremony at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2023, will once again wear the uniform of the "motherland" Puerto Rico national team.
The Puerto Rico Baseball Association officially announced on the 3rd (Korea time) that "It has been confirmed that key closer Diaz and San Francisco Giants outfielder Eliot Ramos (27) will participate in the WBC in March."
Diaz's decision is making waves in the baseball community, including the Major League Baseball. After confirming his victory against the Dominican Republic during the 2023 tournament, he suffered an absurd and terrible injury that ruptured his right knee knee tendon while jumping and celebrating with his teammates. In the end, I blew the entire 2023 season.
The injury of Diaz, who was the highest contractor for a relief pitcher in Major League history (five years and 102 million dollars) for the New York Mets at the time, became a catalyst for the "WBC uselessness theory" and the "player protection controversy."
In particular, Diaz's team, the LA Dodgers, is the most heartbroken by this announcement. Ahead of this season, the Dodgers signed a three-year, large-scale contract worth 69 million dollars (about 100.3 billion won) with Diaz to strengthen the back door, and selected it as a new finish. Dodgers fans are already concerned about the news that the "100 billion won finish," which will be responsible for the team's winning direction, will once again go to an international tournament with a high risk of injury.
In fact, Diaz is confident. In a written statement to Puerto Rico's local media 'Primera Ora', Diaz said, "I feel tremendous pride and honor to represent Puerto Rico, which is my hometown and homeland. "I'm so thrilled to be with the people and my family at the WBC tournament in Puerto Rico, and it's like a dream," he said. Puerto Rico was tied in Group A along with Cuba, Canada, Panama and Colombia. Starting with the match against Colombia on March 7, they will play a Group A qualifying match on their home turf.
Currently, Puerto Rico is in the midst of finalizing the WBC entry. Insurance problems have put Carlos Correa (32, Houston Astros) and Francisco Lindor (33, New York Mets) on the rocks, but they are talking closely with the Major League Baseball secretariat and insurance company about Lindor's participation.
Whether Diaz can overcome the "WBC trauma" and win the Dodgers' victory and the glory of his country at the same time is drawing attention from the baseball community around the world.
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*This content was translated by AI.
