World Baseball Classic: Reward of playing for country outweighs injury risk

MIAMI — What the World Baseball Classic has shown is that the reward of playing for country outweighs the risk of potential injury.

The tournament was put to the test on Wednesday night when Team Puerto Rico closer Edwin Diaz of the New York Mets suffered a torn patellar tendon that will require season-ending surgery.

Diaz’s fluke injury occurred while he was celebrating moments after he recorded a save that advanced Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals with a 5-2 win over the Dominican Republic.

Watching arguably the best closer in the majors go down gave fuel to those who question why players would put themselves at risk.

“Injuries are going to happen,” said Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina, who retired as a player with the St. Louis Cardinals after the 2022 season. “You could be in your home and you could get hurt doing whatever you are doing. It’s part of baseball, injuries.

"This tournament for us, it means a lot, you know, to play for your country. In my case, to play for Puerto Rico, and be the coach now, to have a bunch of fans in the stands supporting you, it’s just a great tournament for us.”

More:Where can I watch the World Baseball Classic? TV, streaming guide to the final rounds

Based on the emotions on Friday when Puerto Rico faced Mexico in the quarterfinals at loanDepot park, neither the players nor the fans are about to stop celebrating.

In the top of the first inning, Puerto Rico struck for four runs off Mexico left-hander Julio Urias. The predominantly Puerto Rican crowd erupted when Enrique Hernandez scored on Emmanuel Rivera’s sacrifice fly to right field to open the scoring.

Then, Javier Baez and Eddie Rosario raised the volume levels with back-to-back home runs. Baez deposited a two-run drive to right, and Rosario launched a solo shot.

After both blasts, players sprang from the dugout to greet their teammates at home plate. Baez stood at home plate admiring his homer, and Rosario, as he approached home, stepped back and took a pretend jump shot.

“No matter whether we are major leaguers or minor leaguers, or if we are not signed, it’s a dream for us to represent our country,” Baez said.

There promised to be more energy on celebrations on Saturday when Venezuela, with a large South Florida fan base, took on Team USA, which has a loaded roster of superstars.

USA manager Mark DeRosa previously played winter ball in Venezuela, so he is familiar with the passion of the fans.

"I know it’s going to be like Caracas-Magallanes on steroids,” said DeRosa of a big Venezuelan rivalry. “No question about it. I’m fired up for it.”

As has been the case this past week, Miami has embraced the Classic.

Per the Marlins, Pool D in Miami at loanDepot park set the record for the biggest crowd at a World Baseball Classic round ever in the United States, drawing 295,850. The Brightline train has been a popular mode of transportation from West Palm Beach to Miami.

The energy inside and outside the park has been electrifying. Cheering fans dressed in their country’s jerseys filled the park. Many fans sport No. 21 Roberto Clemente jerseys.

Fans across the globe are loading up on WBC merchandise. Online sales and sales at the respective pool venues set records, per MLB.

Team USA and Mexico are now in Miami after playing in Pool C at Chase Field in Phoenix. Out west, they were playing in front of 42,000.

Alex Verdugo of the Boston Red Sox is caught up in the WBC hysteria while playing for Mexico.

“I love this,” Verdugo said. “There’s nothing more fun than putting this jersey on, playing out there in this atmosphere and just representing your country, having all Mexicans out there just yelling, making noise with horns. The hats. It’s just been some of the funnest baseball that you will play. I’m grateful to be here for my second WBC.”

The Mexican fans made their presence felt in the second inning when Isaac Paredes of the Tampa Bay Rays homered. The celebration involves having Paredes wear a sombrero in the dugout.

Miami has been an ideal host for the Classic, with sellouts or close to sellouts since the WBC began on March 11.

All the pageantry has underscored the fact that the Classic has been an intersection between sports and spectacle.

Still, the games are being played so there’s a chance players could get hurt.

“Unfortunately, you don’t want to see that,” White Sox pitcher Lance Lynn said. “Edwin’s an amazing player and it’s a big loss for the Mets. But when you look at what this is all about, and all that, I don’t think he would tell you he regrets being part of this. We like to compete. We like to compete for our countries, and people that we care about.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: World Baseball Classic: Reward of playing for country outweighs injury risk