PORT ST. LUCIE — Unlike last year, Edwin Díaz has no limitations this spring training.
And he’s relishing it.
“Last year was a little bit different because I was recovering from an injury,” Díaz told The Post on Tuesday. “When I got here to spring training [last year], I wasn’t doing everything with the team. This year, I’ve been able to do everything, that’s something good. Physically, I feel great, ready to go.”
Last spring, Díaz slowly ramped up after missing the entire 2023 season because of the torn patellar tendon he suffered while celebrating during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
And he subsequently regressed last year, recording a 3.52 ERA with 20 saves and seven blown saves in the regular season.
The Mets even temporarily removed him from his closer role.
It was a far cry from his 2022 showing, when he recorded a 1.31 ERA with 32 saves.
That earned him his five-year, $102 million deal — the biggest ever for a reliever.
Perhaps having no restrictions this spring can help return him to his form of 2022, the last year he could operate at full speed in the spring.
He did not travel for Tuesday’s 8-5 spring training loss to the Astros, instead throwing live batting practice back at the Mets facility.
Díaz had a glaring inability to control base runners last year.
He allowed 16 stolen bases in the regular season, way up from the five he surrendered in 2022 and more than double any season of his career.
“Trying to get it under 1.5 [seconds to the plate],” manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday. “This is a guy that was almost 2 seconds to the plate last year. If we get him somewhere around the 1.5 [range], it’ll give our catchers a chance and people aren’t just basically walking to second base. … When he gets some game action, those are some of the things we’ll be looking for. And he knows, and he wants to work on it. And picking bases, too — he wasn’t as comfortable last year throwing over.”
Getting Díaz quicker to the plate without affecting his control will be tricky.
His control, particularly with his slider, also went wayward last year.
Too often, he left the pitch hanging over the middle of the plate.
Five of the seven home runs Díaz surrendered in the regular season came off his slider, per Baseball Savant.
“I’m always working on my command,” Díaz said. “If I hit my glove side with consistency, I will be good, so that’s my goal. And controlling the running game. I think that’s something I have to improve in. I’m working on my pickoff to first base, trying to be quicker to the plate. This is the perfect time to do it.”
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