N.Y. Mets: The Captain David Wright Setting New Life Course

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

THE CAPTAIN

5

DAVID WRIGHT

New York Mets: Without actually using the "R" word, David Wright sadly informs the organization, media, and fans, that his playing career is unavoidably coming to an end.

The New York Mets held a Thursday mid-afternoon press conference at Citi Field where David Wright, accompanied by Jeff Wilpon and John Ricco, confirmed that various physical ailments affecting his neck, back, and shoulder, are preventing him from resuming his playing career.

In 2015, he only plays in 38 regular season games, but at least is able to participate in three rounds of playoffs and help the Mets win a National League pennant.  However, the following season he is again limited to just 37 games played, the last occurring on May 27, 2016, against the Dodgers at Citi Field.  Wright has not played a game for the Mets since.

Recent Injury History:

• 2009 - suffers concussion/post-concussion symptoms after getting hit with pitch in head/helmet.
• 2011 - suffers stress fracture in lower back.
• 2016 - diagnosed with spinal stenosis; undergoes surgery for herniated disk in neck.
• 2017 - undergoes rotator cuff surgery.

The club recently cut-short his official rehab assignment (at Las Vegas) so as to control the date of his official activation.  According to SNY-TV, the tentative plan is to reinstate him by Sept. 25, after which he will play third base on Saturday, Sept. 29, against the Miami Marlins in the penultimate game of the regular season at Citi Field.  David's availability for Sunday's season finale has yet to be determined, although unlikely.

Thursday's announcement sets in motion one of the more unfortunate and somber career endings to beset this organization throughout its five-plus decades old history.  Wright has been a part of the Mets family since they drafted him with the 38th overall selection in the 2001 amateur draft.  By late 2004 he is donning a New York Mets uniform for his first time.  After which, he spends the next fourteen years becoming one of the Mets most beloved players of all-time, and one of the organization's greatest ever ambassadors.

A seven time all-star, he makes his Mets debut on July 21, 2004, against the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium.  At 21-years of age, he slashes .293/.332/.525, with 14 home runs and 40 RBI in 69 games.  Between 2005-2008, and 2010, he averages .305/.386/.527/.913, with 29 home runs and 110 RBI.  He enjoys a resurgent season in 2012, slashing .306/.391/.492, with 21 home runs and 93 RBI.

Then injuries start piling up which ultimately take a career ending toll on his elite baseball abilities, however, not before David Wright rewrites the Mets history books.  He is the Mets all-time leader in At-Bats; Runs Scored; Hits; Doubles; RBI; and Walks.  He is second in games played behind Ed Kranepool, and second in home runs (only ten) behind Darryl Strawberry, and is third all-time in career average.  All of which arguably qualifies him as the greatest ever positional player in New York Mets history.

Above all else, I want David Wright, the husband and father of two daughters, to enjoy for many years to come a superior quality of life with his family, that he be able to dance with his daughters perhaps one day at their respective weddings, and maybe one day be able to play with grandchildren free of restrictions.

Otherwise, thank you, David Wright, for being such an upstanding person, and for being the admirable hero to so many Mets fans you undoubtedly have become.