New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz is the new owner of $250,000 worth of jewellery in tribute to his walkout song and number 39 jersey number.
Diaz, 29, is recovering from a knee injury which will keep him out until next year, and is clearly spending that newfound time treating himself to custom-made accessories. The Puerto Rico international is likely out for the 2023 season after completely tearing his right patellar tendon.
The initial timescale for a return was six to eight months. It came only four months after agreeing to a contract extension with the Mets. Diaz signed a five-year, $102 million deal with the franchise to make the two-time All-Star the highest-paid relief pitcher in MLB history.
While rehabilitating from surgery in the Spring, the former Seattle Mariners player is investing some of that salary into jewellery. A quarter of a million dollars has gone towards a diamond bracelet and necklace set.
New York City-based professional jeweller Tajia Diamonds has shared a video of the latter on Instagram. The clip showing a close-up of the necklace has the caption: "We do things different," and tags Edwin Sugar Diaz before adding, "Love you my brother." The Mets are also tagged.
Tajia describes themselves as "designing custom jewellery" and insists, "Your dream our creation." For Diaz, that vision features a fully diamond-encrusted design featuring a blue trumpet and the number 39 emblazoned onto the pendant.
As TMZ reports, Victor Rodriguez, the individual behind Tajia Diamonds, was asked by Diaz for the piece and duly obliged by delivering the final product earlier this month. Rodriguez claims the pendant alone has 75 carats of VS diamonds.
The chain adds another 100 carats, per Rodriguez, and its pendant also features F colour stones, an extremely high colour grade towards the top of the grading scale. To accompany what's hanging around his neck, Diaz also has the bracelet to match.
However, the standout element of the pieces is the bright blue trumpet. The pendant depicts it making a sound and propelling the number 39, which Diaz has worn throughout his MLB career with the Mets and the Mariners.
The instrument is a nod to the pitcher's walkout song, which went viral during the 2022 season. Diaz enters the field to the tune of "Narco" by Australian DJ Timmy Trumpet.
It has become synonymous with the Puerto Rican player, so much so that he has honoured it with this latest piece of jewellery. Whether Diaz will wear the item when returning to the ballpark remains to be seen.
What is certain is that the Mets are missing the presence of their star reliever. After a 101-61 season last year, when Diaz was an All-MLB First Team selection and named Reliever of the Year, they are currently 34-40.
In 2022, they were second in the National League East. After reaching the postseason, they lost the NL Wild Card Series to the San Diego Padres.
