Mets' Edwin Diaz is not worried about lagging fastball velocity
Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz throws during a spring training workout in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Feb. 19,. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Much like early last season, Edwin Diaz’s fastball velocity is down.
Also much like early last season, Diaz is not worried about it.
His typically flaming fastball has been less so during three Grapefruit League appearances, averaging less than 96 mph and maxing out at 97.4.
During the regular season, when pitchers naturally throw harder, he averaged 97.5 in 2024.
“It will come,” Diaz said of his usual velocity, which touches triple digits. “I feel good. My main thing here is go through spring training healthy. I’m feeling great. When the games start, my adrenaline goes so high, everything will come out better.”
At this time last year, Diaz was just returning from missing the entire previous season because of a knee injury. Still, his velocity then was a tick higher — even after the adrenaline of his first exhibition action and the amped-ness that came with getting into a game for the first time in a year.
That Diaz is touching 97 mph lately, including in a minor-league scrimmage Saturday, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, is fine by the Mets.
“It’s good for me,” Diaz said.
Mendoza said: “He continues to say he feels good, so no issues there.”
New ink for Alvy
Out for the past week and for at least the next five weeks, Francisco Alvarez hasn’t let breaking a bone in his left hand dampen his mood.
He has been visibly upbeat in recent days, often marching through the clubhouse shouting song lyrics in Spanish and jovially conversing with healthy teammates. During one of his free nights, he got a new tattoo on his left upper arm, which already was mostly covered. Alvarez’s new ink features an MLB logo, his last name and his uniform number (No. 4).
“I had a couple days I couldn’t sweat,” said Alvarez, who had been wearing a hard cast post-surgery. “So let’s do a tattoo.”
Old friends alert
Slated to start for the Rays on Monday at Clover Park: Mike Vasil, a Mets draft pick in 2021 who is trying to make Tampa Bay’s major-league club.
Vasil got selected by the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft and traded to the Rays in December.
Also on the list to pitch: reliever Eric Orze, whom the Mets dealt to the Rays for Jose Siri in November.
Extra bases
Righthander Clay Holmes reported feeling fatigue in his 4 1⁄3-inning, 77-pitch outing against the Nationals. That is normal for any starter but a less familiar feeling for the converting reliever. “It was good to pitch with that,” said Holmes, who allowed two runs and three hits. “Each outing, I feel stronger.” Mendoza added: “This is all new for him, especially when you get to that territory. But that’s what he’s going to have to get used to. It’s important for him to get this type of reps now.” . . . The Mets lost, 4-1 . . . Bullpen candidate Max Kranick’s run of eight consecutive scoreless innings ended. He allowed two runs, three hits and a walk in 1 1⁄3 innings . . . Mendoza said Mark Vientos has been “a lot more mature” this spring training compared to last, when he was trying to win a roster spot. “I’ve seen a comfortable player,” Mendoza said. “He knows he belongs in the big leagues and he knows he’s a big part of this team.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
