Wright has 1 more game in him
Longtime star, captain doesn’t see play beyond Sept. 29 “as a possibility”
NEW YORK — David Wright will get to wear a major-league uniform one more time. Then the captain is done with baseball.
The Mets announced Thursday that Wright will be activated on Sept. 25 for the final homestand — and start on Saturday, Sept. 29 at third base against the Marlins.
Wright will then walk away from the game as his body just can’t take the daily grind, although he refused to say the word “retirement.”
He admitted that doctors have told him that his physical health will not improve and that he can no longer realistically play the game.
“I don’t see (more games) as a possibility,” an emotional Wright said.
Before the emotions flowed from the seven-time All-Star and one of the greatest Mets in franchise history, Wright opened with a joke.
“I thought we were going to announce an extension today,” Wright quipped.
Wright, who broke down in tears as he talked to the media at Citi Field, said his goal recently changed from trying to continue his career to just pulling on the Mets uniform one last time to give his daughters a chance to see him in action.
“I always wanted to be on the field again to have my daughters see me play,” Wright said. “So September 29th is very important to me.”
He also had a message for his teammates and Mets fans.
“It’s truly been an honor of a lifetime to take the field with you and serve as the captain,” Wright said about his teammates.
“To the fans, words can’t address my gratitude.”
When asked about the disappointment of not being physically able to continue his career, Wright said he had no regrets.
“I like to look at it that I was extremely lucky to have the career that I had, surrounded by the people that I had,” Wright said. “I love the game. I truly do. I love the game. I love it. … I miss it. But as far as regrets go, I can’t say that I have regrets.”
Wright was joined by Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and interim GM John Ricco for Thursday’s press conference.
The Mets cap the season with a six-game homestand at Citi Field against the Braves (Sept. 25-27) and Marlins (Sept. 28-30).
The Mets’ third baseman last played in a major-league game in May of 2016.
Sources told the Daily News Wednesday that Wright’s goal had been to play in at least two games before the end of the season. Wright met with Jeff Wilpon on Wednesday.
Wright, 35, who was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2015, has had three major surgeries since (spine, neck and shoulder).
He is owed $27 million over the next two seasons as part of the eight-year, $138 million deal he signed in December of 2012. Wright’s contract is insured so that the Mets get 75 percent of his contract back after he has missed 60 games.
After a 10-game stint with Advance Single-A St. Lucie (just six hits in 32 at-bats) last month, the Mets moved Wright to Triple-A Las Vegas. He played two games for the 51s, going 1-for-9 with four strikeouts.