The MLB awards for May were handed out on Tuesday, and Mets closer Edwin Díaz was the recipient of the Reliever of the Month honors for the National League.
Díaz was utterly dominant in May, throwing 11.1 scoreless innings, and racking up five saves.
Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Mets’ fireballer put together probably his best run since his sublime 2022 season. During the month, Díaz went through a stretch in which hitters were 0-for-30 against him. It’s his first time winning the award since he won it in three consecutive months three seasons ago.
Through April, Díaz had a mediocre 4.50 ERA and was even boggling the minds of Mets fans when it came to what was causing some of his struggles.
“Yesterday, my legs—one was longer than the other one,” Díaz said after a late April game against the Phillies, “We worked on that yesterday. I don’t know if that was a problem. [It was the] first time that had happened to me.”
Contrast that to mid-May when Díaz told MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, “Right now, I’m doing whatever I want on the mound.”
In his award-winning month, Díaz totaled 14 strikeouts, walked only four batters, and gave up just three hits. Opponents had a .306 OPS against him during the month.
Despite blowing his first save of the season Monday night, Díaz is putting together a great season that will probably earn him All-Star consideration.
