Ex-met Wright enlightens youngsters in annual spring appearance

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — When it came time for Mark Vientos to choose his jersey number as a kid, he knew exactly what number he would choose: No. 5. The third baseman wore No. 5 for David Wright, his favorite player on his player team.

During his freshman year of high school, he even used Wright’s walkout song, “I Got 5 on It” by rappers Luniz and Michael Marshall. The song was released in 1995, well before the Mets’ third base prospect was born in 1999, and probably isn’t appropriate for a teenage audience, but it was the song Wright used while walking up to the plate during his career with the Mets.

Vientos had an opportunity to talk to his idol for the second time on Thursday as Wright made his annual spring training appearance as a guest instructor. In addition to Vientos, the Mets also had him speak with their other top third-base prospect, Brett Baty.

Wright came into camp with a favorite.

“I’m not sure if this is true or not or somebody’s trying to make me feel good but Vientos wore five at some point in South Florida,” Wright said Thursday at Clover Field before the Mets’ Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves. “My next question to Baty is, why he didn’t wear five in Texas? Obviously, if I have like a favorite child, it’s Vientos because he wore my number. But both seem like really good dudes.”

The Mets are hoping Wright imparts some knowledge about defensive footwork and workout routines at the ballpark, but the sense of humor would be a bonus.

Wright’s role with the Mets allows him to come back to the baseball world periodically to meet with sponsors and prospects while still allowing him enough time to coach his kids’ sports teams. Wright and his wife Molly now have three, daughters Olivia and Madison and son Brooks, the latter of whom recently broke a chandelier in the house while playing baseball. Only two, Brooks already has a powerful lefthanded swing.

It’s exactly what Wright wants for his post-playing world.

“My main priorities are family and kids,” Wright said. “But any chance I get to get a little slice of baseball, I’m going to jump at it.”