Edwin Diaz recently had surgery to address a longstanding issue in his elbow, and it appears that the problems have been lingering for quite a while.
In his first media appearance following the surgery, which will keep him off the field for at least part of the season, Diaz revealed that he’s felt some looseness in his elbow “since I think I signed as a professional player in 2012.”
Interestingly enough, during his decade in Major League Baseball, Diaz, a three-time All-Star, didn’t face any significant issues until this season.
His first contract with the Dodgers, worth $69 million over three years, came with some early struggles; notably, his fastball velocity was lower than normal, not exactly ideal for a veteran player.
Initially, he thought the problem might be in his knee, which he had surgically repaired this year after a serious injury during a World Baseball Classic celebration.
Following a three-run save against the Rangers on April 10, the Dodgers held Diaz out for eight days while he attempted to resolve the issue in practice sessions.
However, when he took the mound again against the Rockies on April 19, he was optimistic, declaring he was “feeling great” and expected to perform better.
This time, things did not go well at all. He ended up struggling, unable to get any of the four batters out, and his fastball dropped to its slowest speed in recent memory at 92.8 mph.
During that game, he felt discomfort in his throwing arm for the first time, which was alarming for him.
“I didn’t know it was that serious,” he commented. “I just felt tired and tight.”
This unexpected pain made him realize he had never been informed before that he might need surgery for such an issue in his elbow. It was a troubling moment in his career.
Diaz mentioned, “That’s something a lot of pitchers have,” indicating that issues are common, but added, “This is the first time my arm has felt sore.”
The good news? He reported feeling better just a few days post-surgery. Even if his return is postponed until after the All-Star break, he characterized the outlook as the “best case scenario.”
“I can move my arm really well now,” he expressed, amazed at his recovery progress so quickly after surgery.
At 32, he found the improved mobility encouraging, especially after recent struggles when he felt “a little shorter than normal.”
“Now that I’m done with the surgery, I feel more like my old self,” he said, projecting confidence he’ll regain his dominant skills when he’s back on the mound.
He acknowledged that he would work on strengthening not only his arm but also his legs during recovery, reflecting on the earlier issues he had. Diaz is eager to resume pitching soon, though he remains uncertain about a precise timeline.
Despite the challenges, he shared his frustration at missing significant time in the season, especially after signing with a new team. “But that’s beyond my control,” he noted. His teammates have been supportive, looking forward to seeing him back at full strength. They joked, waiting for October, while he expressed his desire to contribute as soon as possible.
