With Edwin Diaz rehabbing, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says WBC injuries are an issue

Well, at least Rob Manfred acknowledges the injuries during this year’s World Baseball Classic were not ideal.

The 2023 WBC, while it garnered praise, saw many high-profile players get injured, including the Astros’ Jose Altuve and Mets closer Edwin Diaz. Both will miss significant time and affects each team's season.

"It is an issue," the MLB commissioner said when asked about the injuries during the Phillies/ Rangers television broadcast Thursday. "We don’t want anybody getting hurt. The fact of the matter is, players get hurt in spring training. We need to continue to look at the calendar, and it’s really not a business issue...."

While Altuve will miss a couple of months, Diaz will likely miss the season. The injuries have re-ignited debate about whether professionals should be playing in the tournament so close to the season.

MLB’s rationale is that the players are ramping up for the start of the season in spring training already, and the WBC is a sort of addition to that. Many believe having the tournament after the season would increase the chances that injured players could return the following year.

"We have talked about timing until your head hurts," Manfred told reporters prior to the 2023 WBC Final. "It's just no perfect time. We can't really do it during the playoffs because so many players would be down. We have talked about something in the middle of the season. I think on balance, although it's not perfect, this is probably the right place for it."

Manfred and MLB will have a few years to decide on the timing of the tournament as the WBC is set to return in 2026. For now, the Mets will have to navigate this season without arguably the best closer in the game.

Diaz, 29, tore his right patellar tendon celebrating Team Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic. He had successful surgery and, just two weeks removed, is already rehabbing.