PORT STREET LUCIE — As the national anthem was played on Clover Park’s main field before the Mets faced the Yankees in a Grapefruit League game, “Narco” rang out in the backfield.
It sounded like the classic Edwin Diaz look, and soon it looked like that too.
Diaz pitched in his first Red-White game Tuesday afternoon, taking 14 pitches to throw to Luke Voit, Rylan Thomas and Jett Williams in that order, and said he felt “very good” afterward.
Diaz warmed up to the song, which turned Citi Field into a dance party for the first time since tearing his patella tendon.
“It was a surprise to me,” Diaz said of the music selection. “I said these people are crazy.”
Until then, Diaz had pitched five live batting practices, but had not been cleared to appear in a scrimmage, and the Mets wanted him to defend his starting position.
Diaz had recently cleared a defensive hurdle and was able to sprint all the way to first base, so the next step was against the Red and White.
The Mets closer said his fastball velocity is reaching 96 to 98 mph, an increase from previous sessions.
His fastball provoked a flyout from Voit, and his slider led to an ugly swing from Thomas, who eventually fell to a grounder to third base. Williams, the organization’s top prospect, fouled out on several pitches while remaining at the plate. Diaz then hit a powerful slider that Williams swung through.
Diaz said he plans to throw in one more backfield game Friday before making his Grapefruit League debut next week.
“I’m pitching the way I want,” Diaz said. “He feels 100 percent ready.”
