White Sox pitcher Joe Kelly blasts fans blaming WBC for injured players

Outspoken Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly has become the latest noteworthy individual to blast fans who have complained about players getting hurt during the World Baseball Classic. 

"The guy got hurt having fun celebrating with teammates," Kelly said about New York Mets star closer Edwin Diaz during the latest edition of the "Baseball Isn’t Boring" podcast, per Ryan Gilbert of Audacy. "Who gives a s---? It was very unfortunate. But it is what it is. I can get hurt right now driving home and get paralyzed and break my neck in a car accident. It doesn’t matter. People are always going to give an excuse." 

Diaz went down with a complete patellar tendon tear in his right knee as he and his Puerto Rico teammates celebrated a win over the Dominican Republic last week. While it's thought Diaz will likely miss the entire 2023 MLB season, Will Sammon of The Athletic noted on Friday that "there is some optimism" the right-hander, who will celebrate his 29th birthday on Wednesday, could return to action late in the campaign. 

Additionally, Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros suffered a broken thumb after he was hit in the hand by a pitch playing for Team Venezuela on Saturday night. Altuve is on track to miss at least two months of the season due to that setback. 

"If you have an excuse saying like 'Oh, he shouldn’t have played,' shut up, dude," Kelly continued about the Diaz situation. "Just shut your mouth. It doesn’t matter. That’s not why he got hurt. It could’ve happened game one of the playoffs or it could’ve happened game one of Opening Day of him jumping and if his cartilage was already weak, it could’ve ripped." 

Kelly also pointed out that "stupid injuries" occur in spring training every year. Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo and Gavin Lux of the Los Angeles Dodgers are two players who know all about that. 

Meanwhile, Mets players Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil along with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts and Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout are among others who have backed participating in the WBC even though they know they could suffer serious injuries playing in exhibition games that mean plenty to those representing their countries. 

"I think the World Baseball Classic is great for baseball and you want every superstar playing in it as much as you can," Kelly remarked. "Injuries happen." 

While Kelly is correct, his words won't mean much to upset Mets and Astros fans who won't get to see Diaz or Altuve play for their clubs anytime soon.