David Wright’s Uncertain of Future
He hasn’t played in a big league game in almost two years, and he may never play again. It’s the harsh reality for the New York Mets third baseman and captain David Wright. He missed the entirety of the team’s disappointing 2017 campaign with continue back troubles. After a full year of rehab, the only remaining captain in baseball is not sure if he will ever be able to return to the diamond.
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“It really hurts to say this, but I obviously can’t be relied on to go out there and do what I’ve done throughout my career,” Wright said, per MLB.com.
In 2015, Wright hurt himself on a slide attempting to steal second base. It was originally believed to be a hamstring injury, but ultimately was diagnosed as spinal stenosis which forced him to miss most of the season until he returned for New York’s postseason push late in the summer.
The following spring training, Wright had issues throwing with pains in his shoulder and ended up having neck surgery that ended any chance of him playing in 2016.
Now, Wright and the Mets will wait-and-see on the 35-year-old’s health as the spring and the season progresses. Wright acknowledged that the fight to return remains a difficult challenge.
“It’s certainly been an uphill climb for me. I’d love to play, but my body’s got to hold up and have to cooperate with me a little bit,” Wright said.
As the Mets begin to get their 55-man roster acclimated in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Wright is taking his rehab slow and focusing on each little improvement.
“We want to make sure that when we progress to these steps that it’s not going to do anything that will kind of set us back,” Wright said. “I guess baby steps are still steps in the right direction.”
Stay tuned to webn.tv for more Spring Training coverage throughout the week.