WRIGHT GIVES UP ON ’17 COMEBACK
CINCINNATI — Yoenis Cespedes’ season is officially over and David Wright’s appears headed in that direction, according to medical updates provided by the Mets on Monday.
Also, Michael Conforto was examined by team doctors and will receive a second opinion on his left shoulder, which sustained a dislocation and tear in the posterior capsule last week as he swung at — and missed — a pitch. Surgery is an option for Conforto, with an extensive rehab that could potentially last into spring training and beyond.
The team said in a release that Cespedes, who strained a right hamstring running the bases in Washington on Friday, received an MRI exam that conformed the initial diagnosis. Recovery is six weeks — not enough time for the outfielder to return this season.
Wright’s rehab assignment at Single-A St. Lucie has been “terminated,” according to the club, and the Mets captain will return to New York this week to be re-examined. Wright, who has been sidelined since spring training with an impingement in his right shoulder, played consecutive games at third base for St. Lucie on Friday and Saturday, but was absent from the lineup the following two days.
“After playing in a few games I continued to have shoulder pain,” Wright said in a statement. “So I decided to go to the doctor and get it checked out. Will make any decisions going forward after my appointment.”
Team officials were hopeful, but not overly optimistic that Wright would join the Mets in September, when rosters can expand. After this season Wright — who has not appeared in a major league game since May 2016 — has three years and $47 million still remaining on his contract, which insurance is expected to pick up the bulk of if he remains injured. The third baseman is battling spinal stenosis, a chronic condition in his back he must manage for the remainder of his career.
On another front, Matt Harvey will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, after which he is expected to be cleared for a Friday return, against the Astros. The right-hander has made four rehab starts in his comeback from a stress injury to his right scapula. Harvey, who missed the second half of last season rehabbing from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, is 4-3 with a 5.25 ERA in 13 starts for the Mets this year.
Noah Syndergaard, rehabbing from a torn lat, is expected to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and could be nearing a rehab start in an attempt to rejoin the Mets in September.
Cespedes, who signed a four-year contract worth $110 million with the Mets last offseason, appeared in only 81 games for the team. He spent six weeks on the disabled list beginning in late April with a strained left hamstring, and during his rehab also incurred right quadriceps discomfort. Cespedes also recently revealed he incurred a pinch nerve near his glutes during his rehab, the result of a massage gone wrong.
Cespedes hit .292 with 17 homers and 42 RBIs, but appeared to be walking on eggshells as he played left field.