Edwin Diaz will not be eased back into the Mets bullpen hierarchy upon returning Thursday from the injured list. The former All-Star closer will regain that vital role, despite he set in 2022 this season after mi sing all of last year following knee surgery. Yes, right into it. For us to make a run at this, were gonna need Diaz to be Edwin Diaz, manager Carlos Mendoza said before Wednesdays game against the Marlins. Weve been trying to piece it together for the past month or so, but he feels good, physically, mentally. Edwin Diaz is set to return to the Mets roster on Thursday and will get his closer role back. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST So Im comfortable with him going back to the closers role. The 30-year-old Diaz started the season strongly with four consecutive saves and a 0.93 ERA over his first 10 appearances despite mi sing all of 2023 after sustaining a torn patellar tendon in his right knee during the preseason World Baseball Cla sic. Explore More But the Puerto Rico native suffered four blown saves in five opportunities with a 9.58 ERA over his next 11 appearances. Diaz relinquished his claim on the closer role with Mendoza turning to a committee setup before with a right shoulder impingement in late May. The two-time All-Star pitched in two minor league rehab games last week with Single-A Brooklyn reaching 97 mph with his fastball. Some of the things he was working with Hef, they went back and looked at a lot of film, Mendoza said, referring to pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. His outings in the minor leagues, the shape of the slider, the fastball there were little details there. But the biggest thing is Ron Cey Jersey that hes feeling really good not only physically, but mentally. Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) throws against the Detroit Tigers. Noah K. Murray-NY Post Just having conversations with him, the conviction, you can see it in his face, hes not the same guy when he was struggling. You could tell he was feeling it a little bit, but the past couple of days and watching him pitch, even though he was facing minor league hitters, you could tell hes in a good spot and ready to go. Mendoza added he also has noticed the return of Diazs confidence, though it remains to be seen when he dominated with a 1.31 ERA with 32 saves and 118 strikeouts in 61 appearances. Diaz also struggled mightily in his first season with the team with a 5.59 ERA in 2019 before rebounding with a strong performance in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. You gotta show them you have the confidence, and then you gotta give them the ball, Mendoza said. You cant hide them. The best way is go get the last three outs. Hes done it before. Hes struggled before, hes been there and got through it before. Hes been in this league for a long time. And its just a matter of us continuing to have that confidence in the player. Because weve seen it. Hes had some years that werent easy for him. In 22, it obviously was an unbelievable year, but you cant forget the fact that he didnt pitch at all last year. The expectations to be the Edwin Diaz of 2022, especially when you mi s the whole year, and theres a lot of new rules and different things hes got to deal with, its hard. But Im pretty confident that hes in a good spot and hell get going here. Rod Beck Jersey