Edwin "Sugar" Díaz Nears Return to Dodgers After Overcoming Neck Injury

Naguabo-born closer Edwin "Sugar" Díaz threw on back-to-back days with Triple-A Oklahoma City this week, a key step in his rehab that moves him closer to rejoining the Los Angeles Dodgers before the regular season ends ¹². The Puerto Rican reliever was placed on the injured list on August 18 due to neck inflammation, his second IL stint of 2026 after missing earlier time this season because of loose bodies in his elbow ¹.

Díaz enters this final stretch of the season with numbers well below his usual standard: he carries an 11.85 ERA in 13.2 innings with the big-league club, converting seven saves in 11 opportunities ¹. In his most recent rehab outings, he threw 2/3 of an inning on Wednesday with two walks, one run allowed and one strikeout, then followed with a clean inning on Thursday with one hit, one walk and one strikeout, topping out at 97.9 mph on his fastball ¹. MLB.com reported that in Thursday's outing he threw 18 pitches, 10 of them strikes, averaging 96.1 mph on his fastball, and that his slider's whiff rate dropped from 44% in 2025 to 27.5% in 2026, a decline the coaching staff partly attributes to his injuries ².

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Díaz would make one more rehab outing in Triple-A before rejoining the big-league club, possibly coinciding with the Dodgers' series against the Miami Marlins ³. "I'm sure Edwin's going to want to get back here as soon as possible, but I'm probably more on the get-another-one, and then get back with us" side, Roberts said of the activation plan ³. While Díaz completes his recovery, Tanner Scott has handled most of the closing duties for Los Angeles, with Edgardo Henríquez also factoring into ninth-inning situations thanks to his power fastball ³.

A three-time All-Star, Díaz joined the Dodgers as a free agent after walking away from the two years and $38 million remaining on his contract with the New York Mets, signing a three-year, $69 million deal with Los Angeles ⁴. His younger brother, Alexis Díaz, who worked within the Dodgers organization, influenced the decision by speaking highly of the team's winning environment ⁴. "I'm looking to win, and I think they have everything to win," Díaz said in explaining why he chose Los Angeles over other offers, including one from the Atlanta Braves ⁴.

What This Means for You

For Puerto Rican fans, Díaz's return means seeing another Island-born player in a featured role on a team pushing for the postseason. Naguabo, his hometown, is back on the Major League Baseball radar at a moment when several Puerto Rican players are competing for roster spots on contenders heading into October ¹³. Having a Boricua closer of this caliber healthy for the playoffs also matters for the story of Puerto Rican representation among MLB's young crop of elite relievers.

How to Follow / Checklist

1. Track Díaz's rehab outings with Oklahoma City through MiLB and Dodgers social media accounts ahead of his formal activation ²³.
2. Dodgers games can be followed via MLB.TV with a subscription, or through MLB Network's national broadcasts when the team plays marquee matchups ².
3. In Puerto Rico, tune in to Wapa Deportes' sports roundups and the baseball sections of El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora for daily updates on Díaz's status ¹.
4. Check the Dodgers' transactions page (mlb.com/dodgers) to confirm the exact date of his activation from the injured list once it's officially announced ²³.
5. For the full backstory on how he landed in Los Angeles, read the coverage of his free-agent signing and his brother Alexis's role in the decision ⁴.

What's Next

Barring setbacks, Díaz could rejoin the Dodgers' bullpen rotation as early as this weekend, though he is not expected to immediately reclaim the closer role ¹³. The coaching staff's plan is to reintegrate him first into lower-leverage situations as he rebuilds Roberts' confidence, with the goal of having him ready as a bullpen option for the postseason ³. His own goal, Díaz said, is simple: "My goal is to be ready and help this team in the playoffs" ³.

Sources

¹ El Nuevo Día, "Edwin 'Sugar' Díaz lanza en días seguidos en Triple A y se acerca a su regreso con los Dodgers," https://www.elnuevodia.com/deportes/beisbol/notas/edwin-sugar-diaz-lanza-en-dias-seguidos-en-triple-a-y-se-acerca-a-su-regreso-con-los-dodgers/ ² MLB.com, "Pitching in 2nd consecutive rehab game, Díaz notches 1 K in scoreless frame," https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/edwin-diaz-makes-third-rehab-appearance-at-triple-a ³ Dodger Blue, "Edwin Díaz Making One More Rehab Appearance Before Rejoining Dodgers," https://dodgerblue.com/edwin-diaz-making-one-more-rehab-appearance-before-rejoining-dodgers/2026/09/08/ ⁴ ESPN, "Edwin Diaz reveals why he signed with Dodgers: 'I'm looking to win,'" https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47289783/edwin-diaz-reveals-why-signed-dodgers-looking-win