Edwin Diaz’s Return Brightens Dodgers’ Season

The Dodgers have been eagerly anticipating Edwin Diaz’s return, waiting three long months and hoping he’d regain his form from earlier this year.

So when the familiar trumpet played Wednesday night, and he stepped out of the bullpen to pitch the ninth inning, it was hard not to feel an early sense of excitement in Chavez Ravine.

“I was trying to calm down my emotions,” Diaz reflected. “And as soon as I got on the mound, I was like, ‘Let’s go, let’s pitch, let’s win the game.’”

Diaz and the Dodgers triumphed over the Mariners, winning 4-2.

This marked his first game back since April 19. He had just come off the disabled list after spending three months recovering from elbow surgery, and while he wasn’t flawless—allowing one run in his nine innings—he managed to hold his ground.

In his comeback, he gave up a significant double to Dominic Canzone and another double from Josh Naylor, which slipped past Kyle Tucker in right field.

Still, with a comfortable three-run lead in his first outing, he limited the damage, recorded his fifth save of the season, and took a vital step towards a full comeback.

“I was a little nervous,” Diaz admitted. “But I threw strikes, I pitched, and I ended up getting the W.”

Perhaps the most promising sign for him was the noticeable improvement in his signature fastball. After struggling early in the season, it clocked in at a peak speed of 98.9 mph, noticeably stronger than what he managed in his first ten games of the year.

The Mariners appeared to be capitalizing on fastballs throughout the series, resulting in a fair number of deep flyouts. Yet, Diaz made adjustments and finished the game with a slider that Luke Lally hit to first base.

“The speed and movement were impressive,” manager Dave Roberts noted. “Sure, he gave up some runs, but just getting him back to close to full strength is exciting for our bullpen.”

Diaz hasn’t shown any lasting effects from his elbow injury, which kept him sidelined since April. He previously struggled with discomfort in both elbows and knees, registering a 10.50 ERA before landing on the disabled list. Now, thankfully, that discomfort has faded.

“I feel great,” Diaz said, expressing optimism. “Just keep polishing. Just keep getting better.”

The atmosphere during his entrance was electric, with his entrance music, “Narco” by Timmy Trumpet, garnering an enthusiastic standing ovation from the packed Dodger Stadium. Fans, some holding Diaz bobbleheads from a recent giveaway, pulled out their phones to capture the moment. One clever fan even mimicked a trumpet tune using a plastic beer bat.

“The fans were going crazy,” Diaz remarked. “So that’s really nice.”

This was the spirited vibe the Dodgers had missed throughout the summer.

As they approach the final stretch of the season, they hope to see this kind of performance from their $69 million offseason acquisition regularly.

“I don’t think anyone expected him to be lights out,” Roberts acknowledged, “but his speed and slider were quite impressive. These are qualities we can rely on, especially considering his past achievements.”