Mets closer Edwin Díaz returns to Seattle six years after breakout season with Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) — Six years have passed since Edwin Díaz last took the mound in Seattle. In fact, the ballpark had a different name when he last pitched for the Mariners.

So the Mets’ closer could be excused for referencing T-Mobile Park as Safeco Field upon his return on Friday.

“I got really good memories here. I remember I made my debut here and I pitched my last game here, too, in Seattle,” Díaz said. “I think that’s the biggest memory I have is when I came up in 2016, my first game was here in Safeco and my last game in 2018 was here in Safeco, too.”

Díaz made his return to Seattle with the New York Mets in town for a key three-game series with both teams in playoff contention. Díaz only pitched for Seattle for parts of three seasons from 2016-18, but established himself as one of the top closers in the game during his time with the club and became a favorite of fans who couldn’t wait to see the right-hander on the mound in the ninth inning.

“He’s a special guy. He really is. When you see young players like that come to the big leagues that come out of our system play such a big impact for our team at the time,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.

Servais was in his first season managing the Mariners when Díaz made his debut in 2016 after the organization decided to move him from being a starter to a reliever, providing a quicker path to the majors.

Díaz appeared in 49 games with 18 saves as a 22-year-old in 2016. A year later, he made 52 appearances and had 34 saves.

Then came the breakout in 2018 when Díaz announced himself as one of the top closers in baseball. He led the league in saves with 57 and became an All-Star for the first time in his career.

It also led to his value being the highest of any point in his career and ultimately led to his trade from Seattle to New York as part of a blockbuster deal that included Robinson Canó joining the Mets.

“It was a phenomenal season he had for us that year. It just seemed like he found his stride,” Servais said.

Díaz struggled his first season in New York but rebounded to again be an All-Star in 2022. He missed last season after getting hurt in the World Baseball Classic and this season has 14 saves 33 games while missing a couple stretches due to a suspension and a shoulder injury.

Since mid-June, Díaz has a 1.38 ERA and nine saves in 14 games.

“After that (first) season everything went fine for me,” Díaz said. “I’ve been able to perform the way I want in New York. They go see the numbers they can see I’ve been able to do my work.”