Edwin Diaz could be getting closer to a possible return this season.
The right-hander, sidelined since March after he tore his right patellar tendon celebrating a win at the World Baseball Classic, was spotted by SNY cameras throwing Friday at Citi Field before the Mets’ 6-1 win over the Cardinals.
It’s potentially a major step for the closer.
“It’s very exciting,’’ Adam Ottavino said of Diaz’s progress. “I just want our guy back. He seems great and is saying he can throw 95 [mph] right now. I just want our guy back and the trumpets to play.”
Diaz, 29, has left open the possibility of getting back to the Mets’ bullpen this season, but the team isn’t counting on it.
David Robertson, who did not pitch Friday, has filled in well in the closer role, with 10 saves, but the pen has been weakened by other injuries and ineffectiveness.
Diaz was nearly unhittable in 2022, with 32 saves, before he signed a five-year, $102 million deal in the offseason.
Pete Alonso, on the injured list with a bone bruise and sprain to his left wrist, is hitting in the batting cage in addition to taking ground balls, and manager Buck Showalter said the first baseman “feels good and is making a lot of progress.”
“We’re lucky with what could have happened, compared to where we are,’’ Showalter said of Alonso, who was drilled by a pitch on June 7 in Atlanta.
“I think he’ll join us before long,’’ Showalter said, declining to provide an exact timetable.
Showalter said the Mets are trying to be more careful with their pitching staff, having had two pitchers suspended after they were ruled to have violated MLB’s ban on sticky substances.
He said the Mets are doing their own checks of pitchers to prevent further ejections after both Max Scherzer and Drew Smith were tossed this season though both said they used nothing more than rosin.
“It’s something we’ve talked about,’’ Showalter said before the Mets’ 6-1 win over the Cardinals. “After Max [was suspended], we talked a lot about making sure we’re legal. We’ve taken steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
But Smith was tossed Tuesday night before he even threw a pitch in the Subway Series, so it wasn’t enough.
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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday that he was confident umpires weren’t being “arbitrary” in their judgements of whether pitchers were using banned sticky substances.
Showalter said he agreed with that sentiment, adding, “I hope that’s what’s going on and I have no reason to think that’s going on.’’
He added he didn’t believe anyone was targeting the Mets.
“I’m not a big conspiracy guy,” he said. “With people sitting in some room, diabolically finagling a way to stick it to a certain person or club.”
Showalter said he wanted to examine the Mets’ protocols, rather than go after the rules or the umpires.
“I tend to look in the mirror,” Showalter said. “‘What are we missing? What do we need to do better?’ Instead of blaming somebody else.”
Showalter said he doesn’t know if the Mets are doing anything different than other organizations.
“I worry about ourselves,’’ Showalter said.
The Mets signed outfielder Rafael Ortega to a minor league deal. He last appeared in the majors with the Cubs last season.
Former Mets right-hander Stephen Nogosek signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks.
Nogosek became a free agent when he turned down an outright minor league assignment this week. The 28-year-old had a 5.81 ERA in 13 appearances for the Mets this season.
Ronny Mauricio played his second game in left field for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, going 0-for-3.
The prospect, who has spent the rest of his minor league career in the infield, began working in left field two weeks ago to build his versatility.
Luke Voit hit his second homer in three games for Syracuse. … The Mets celebrated Pride Night at Citi Field on Friday.
