Mets need to find out about David

AND now, the Mets wait, most likely holding their breath, to see how David Wright feels. The Mets third baseman was the designated hitter in a minor-league rehab game Tuesday night, his first game action in more than a year. It was his biggest step in his attempt to come back after 2016 neck surgery.

And the real test is to see how he came through and wakes up feeling this morning after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts for Class-A St. Lucie.

“He wants to get back and play this season. That was his goal when he set out to do baseball activities. He was going to push himself to the point where he can get back in September,” Terry Collins said. “This is a huge step for him forward. I talked to him to the other day. I told him to make sure he’s smart about it. Which he will, I am sure. I am anxious to hear how he feels tomorrow. I know he’s just DHing, but, I am really anxious, I know it will be a little different. “But we can use him here for sure.” The Mets could definitely use Wright here in September, whether he can play defense or not. With the exodus of veterans over the last few weeks, the clubhouse could use his leadership and presence. Collins’ hope is that Michael Conforto, who has been thrust into a leadership role at just 24 because of the Mets’ fire sale, will get a chance to learn from Wright over the next few weeks.

But most importantly, the Mets need to have him here just to know if he can play. The last two years, they have hedged their bets at third base as Wright has fought through health issues and it’s shown on the field. They have piecemealed the position. So his success or failure over the next six weeks will tell the Mets’ front office what it needs to do at third base.

Like Collins, everyone around this team is anxiously rooting for Wright. Everyone admires his desire and drive.

The Mets captain has been working his way back from complications from June 2016 neck surgery to repair a herniated disc. He was shut down in spring training because he could not throw without discomfort in his shoulder.

A second attempt at throwing during the season was ended and Wright went back to California to work at the clinic where he had the surgery. That is the same physical therapists he worked with after he was diagnosed with degenerative spinal condition spinal stenosis by renowned orthopedic surgeon Robert Watkins in 2015.

Wright returned from the spinal clinic at the beginning of August and began what the Mets said were “light” baseball activities.

“He has been throwing, catching ground balls, all the baseball stuff,” Collins said. “I am sure they felt the bat is going to play first.”

So the Mets are making contingency plans when he is here in September, after the rosters expand, whether his throwing has progressed or not.

“I think there are certainly alternatives, that he just becomes a bench guy, a guy who pinch hits. That’s certainly on the table, but again, that will all be determined how David approaches everything right now,” Collins said. “I just think this is exciting having to go through what he’s gone through for the last year and a half he’s going to attempt it. We’ll just see how it comes out. There is certainly a scenario where we don’t have to worry about him playing defense.”

That works for September, but the Mets can’t have a pinch-hitter who can’t field heading into 2018. The Mets and Wright need to know where he stands by the end of the next six weeks. hey are cautiously optimistic.

“I think we got to take one day at a time, because we don’t know how he will feel tomorrow. I know there is a plan to get him in the field eventually…. He’s going to have to go out and play some defense,” Collins said. “When that’s going to be, I don’t think anybody can predict that just yet. I know he’s taken ground balls. I just know this is a huge step for him to get out there and see how it is out there offensively.”

It’s a big step and a huge test for Wright and the Mets.

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