WASHINGTON — Know this about new Mets closer Edwin Diaz: He saves the baseballs from every save he earns. He just sent back to Seattle for the 57 he piled up last year.
Thursday, he proudly showed off the baseball in his blue glove after locking down his first Mets save with a strikeout of Matt Adams in the 2-0 Opening Day win over the Nationals at Nationals Park.
This wasn’t just any save — it was a save for Jacob deGrom, so that gave it a little more meaning.
While Diaz collects baseballs from his saves, Brodie Van Wagenen collected as much talent as he could this offseason, which is why he made the blockbuster trade for Robinson Cano, who homered and singled in a run Thursday, and Diaz.