Puerto Rico players in tears after star pitcher Edwin Díaz injured celebrating win

New York Mets fans began the year dreaming about a World Series closed out by Edwin Díaz. For now, they’re facing a potential nightmare.

Díaz was taken off the field in a wheelchair after injuring his right knee celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night.

There was no immediate word on how severely Díaz was hurt – the Mets said he will undergo more tests on Thursday. But the way his teammates stood around him in shock didn’t look encouraging.

The injury was exactly what big league teams and their fans fear the most when their high-priced stars go play for their countries in the WBC. Díaz signed a $102m, five-year deal in November.

Edwin Diaz had to be helped off the field after suffering an apparent leg injury in Puerto Rico's celebration following their victory over the Dominican Republic. pic.twitter.com/i6g7sjRhYn

No matter what, this setback was sure to set off spirited debate about whether the tournament, which started in 2006 and was held every three or four years until a cancellation in 2021, is worth it.

“Those things, they can happen to anybody at any given time,” said Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Mookie Betts, who was playing for the United States when Díaz was hurt. “You can always try to place blame on the WBC, but that was just a freak accident that could happen to anyone at any given time.”

Mets teammates Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil also were with the US team in a game against Colombia when they were told about Díaz.

“It’s just really heartbreaking to hear about Edwin,” Alonso said after a 3-2 win, which put the US into the tournament’s quarterfinals. “Every day you show up to the yard, there’s a possibility of getting hurt. There’s