Kamal Ghorui
Edwin Diaz and Nashaly Mercado are in a relationship that began long before the baseball star became one of the most advanced closers in Major League Baseball. Their love spans over a decade and captures both the good and the bad that accompany a professional athlete’s career.The couple allegedly became lovers in 2012, when Díaz was still struggling to make his mark in the first steps of his baseball career. By this time, he had not yet entered the major leagues and was therefore preoccupied with his career development in the minors. A stable element in his life was Mercado, despite the uncertainty and constant travel that came with his career path.
From a long-distance relationship to marriage
During those initial years of the relationship, the two found themselves dealing with the issue of long distance, as Diaz spent most of his time playing in the minor leagues. They later reunited after his first season, and their relationship continued as his career advanced.In February 2019, seven years later, Dias and Mercado got married. The marriage was to take place just before he came to spring training with the New York Mets, which was a major landmark in their personal life as his career was taking a new turn.
Family life and unwavering support
Family has always played a central role in their relationship. In July 2016, the couple had their first son, Jahel. Diaz was playing in Seattle Mariners that night when he went out and could not be there during the moment of his birth. They had a second son, Sebastián, in 2021, when Díaz, in a hurry, drove to New York and arrived at the hospital just a few minutes before the birth. The couple has a third son, Lucas Jose, who was recently born.Mercado has also played a great role in offering a shoulder to lean on in some of the tough times of Diaz’s career. She publicly stood by him and updated the press on his recovery after he sustained a severe knee injury in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, calling him a warrior. By the end of 2025, the family had settled in Los Angeles after Díaz decided to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers and embarked on a new life together, off the field.
