DOESN'T FEEL WRIGHT
Captain to miss Opening Day foror fo first time in his career
David Wright has spent 347 days on the disabled list in recent seasons, but Monday’s inactivity will seem a little different for the Mets captain.
After 12 straight starts at third base on Opening Day to begin his major league career, Wright will be reduced to a spectator when the Mets play their opener against the Braves at Citi Field.
Wright, was shut down from his throwing program early in spring training because of a shoulder impingement following his return from neck surgery. He indicated he will still be in uniform for pregame introductions and then will watch from the dugout.
“The disappointment level is high,” Wright said. “I wish there is something else I could do to get ready, but there is nothing. That’s how you kind of maybe soften the disappointment of not being ready, is that I am doing everything I possibly can and that is how I go about it. I wish I was on the field, of course, but I just can’t.”
Jose Reyes is scheduled to start at third base for the Mets. The last Mets player other than Wright to start a season opener at the position was Ty Wigginton in 2004; Wright was called up from Triple-A later that year and began his Opening Day streak the following spring.
Wright has been swinging the bat, fielding grounders and running, but indicated it might be another two weeks before he’s cleared to start throwing. And once he begins throwing, he will have to gradually build up arm strength, adding more time to his rehab.
The 34-year-old Wright is absolute in his belief he will play this season, but also realistic enough to know there will be no guarantees about regular playing time once he returns.
“We’re in a position now where this team is built to win, so when I do come back I have to be ready to produce and not get back just for the sake of getting back, because this is really a deep team,” Wright said.
“I am not going to risk hurting this team for the sake of saying, ‘OK, I am back from neck surgery, I am back from my shoulder woes.’ When I’m back I want to be able to produce.”
In addition to his shoulder impingement, Wright still is managing the spinal stenosis in his back that cost him most of the 2015 season. Last year, he underwent surgery in June for a herniated disk in his neck and never returned.
The Mets brought back Reyes last July following his release from the Rockies — he previously had been suspended 52 games for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy — and still is hoping he can play, once again, in the same infield with Wright. The two, who were teammates for eight seasons, were in the same lineup for a spring training game, with Wright as the designated hitter.
“It’s tough. That is something I was looking forward to, playingplaaying with him in thehe samsameme infield,” Reyes said. “It seems like we have to wait a little bit.it. TrTryry to get healthy, don’tt try to do it too soon. Wait until you’re ready andnd then tryy to come back.”ack.”
Wrightt plansplaans to visit with doc-ddoctors in New YYork this weekek bebeforefore returningng too Port St. Lucie to continuentinue his rehabrehab.b. Then hee wantwantsnts to join veteraveteransans such as Reyes,, Neil Walker, CurtiCurtisis Grander-Granderson and Jay BrBruceruce in hoist-hoisting a Worldorld SSerieseries champi-championship trophy.rophy.y.
“We haveave thee ability to have sustainedd succsuccesscess around here, but we’rere in a win-now mode, because we haveh got a lot of guys thatat are going to be free agents att the ende of the year,” Wright said. “This could be one of this group’s final chances to kindkinnd of finish the job fromm a couplecouuple of years ago. So, when I get back I want to be ablablee to carry my weight.”ght.”