David Wright Excited to be ‘Back With Mets Family’

David Wright is in Port St. Lucie for spring training. He took some time to speak with the media Thursday on what it means to him to be back with the “Mets family” and on being able to give back to the players who are there fighting for positions this spring.

Wright Back in PSL

“I love being back,” he exclaimed. “I bleed orange and blue! This is my extended family,” he said.

Wright said that with his days in Port St. Lucie, he’s looking forward to being back around baseball. “It’s really fun and enjoyable for me to get back down here. Spring training for me were some of the best times to develop relationships with your teammates and hang out around the field,” he said. He went on to say that the “optimism” and “joy” of spring training bring back great memories for him and make it fun to be around again.

Wright went on to talk about his excitement about the role he’s in now with the Mets. “To be back with the Mets family, and with a role that I think I’m going to enjoy. It’s a lot of fun for me. To be around the young players, to help out some business things with the Mets, it’s going to be fun… Any chance I get to have a little slice of Mets baseball, I’m going to jump at it,” he said.

Wright Returning to Citi 

Since retiring, Wright has not been able to make it back to Citi Field. He was scheduled to go back before COVID happened in 2020, then an injury to his daughter did not allow him to make his next scheduled return.

Wright said he does plan to go back this summer and it will be as the MC for FDNY vs NYPD charity game in August. This will be a special time for Wright as he said in an interview with Jay Horowitz. Wright’s dad was a police officer and he has always supported both the fire department and the police department. Wright talked about how he has enjoyed getting to visit firehouses, and police stations, and connecting with the local law enforcement and firefighters in New York.

“That stems from a young age of my appreciation for the police department with my father. I really have that (August 10th) date circled. I’m really excited for that,” said Wright.

Talking World Baseball Classic 

Wright was asked if he had any advice for Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, and members of the Team USA World Baseball classic team. His advice: “Do well, and don’t embarrass the country,” he said with a laugh and a smile. Wright played in the classic in 2013 and earned the nickname, “Captain America” during that tournament. He hit .438 with a grand slam and 10 RBIs during that tournament before exiting early due to an injury to his oblique.

Advice for Brett Baty, Mark Vientos

Wright has talked about how one of the things he looks forward to being at spring training is giving back to the younger players. Wright said the advice/ thing that he would talk to the younger players about is work ethic, preparation, and being a good teammate.

“Though they’re young and somewhat unestablished, you can lead by example. You can be one of the first ones at the field, you can show you want it on the field by the way you work,” he said.

Wright said that managing their time in New York is also crucial. “Understanding that the goal here is to obviously win, but to become the best baseball player you can while winning games,” he stated.

“I learned so much my first Spring Training,” said Wright. He spoke on seeing Mike Piazza putting in extra work early at camp each day, “Derek Jeter at the World Baseball Classic immediately heading to the cage to do his routine and the preparation for the WBC. To see him get there early, go through his pre-game routine, and to watch him continue to work at his craft was eye-opening for me,” stated Wright.

Wright said those are some things he can bring to the younger players: how to prepare for the spotlight and stage that is New York. “Making good, beneficial decisions that will help your career, managing time, and trying to go out there and be a good leader and a good teammate,” he stated are all important things to focus on in New York.

When talking about the younger players, he said that they’re all (Baty and Vientos) soft-spoken. He joked that Vientos is his “favorite child” because he wore 5 growing up in Florida. “My next question to Brett Baty is why he didn’t wear 5 at Texas?” he joked.

He went on to say that they both seem like really good dudes. “I had a chance to work with them (a couple years ago) on the minor league side and I was very impressed with their work ethic and their questions they had for me at such a young age. Very thoughtful questions from a couple young minor league guys.”

Wright Enjoying His Family 

When asked what his favorite part of life is right now, the answer was quick and simple: “My kids,” he said. “Going through the sports… Seeing them go out there and have fun with it and enjoy the team concept makes me proud and it’s fun for me as a parent to see them go out there and attempt to compete,” he explained. “My little one, my little man, for a two-year-old, he’s pretty good. He’s a lefty. Throws right hits lefty.” He said his son is a combination of Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil.

Wright Speaks with Jay Horowitz

As mentioned earlier in the article, Wright took some time to speak with Jay Horowitz. He was asked if he’s gotten over how his career was somewhat cut short because of injury.

“I never played the game for the personal accolades, and the hall-of-fame being the greatest personal accolade… You think back about it (if I could’ve stayed healthy), it brings a smile to my face knowing I did everything I could and I played the game the right way.” He talked about how nothing he did ended his career short, but that it was “some crazy injuries” that ultimately shut him down. They were situations out of his control. “You try to play the game hard, you try to play the game the right way, and injuries happen. You know it ended my career, but they were out of my control,” he said.

“Once my mind caught up to my body and said, I cannot physically do this, the goal was to get out there for a game, a series, to say thank you to the fans, and to play in front of my kids,” said Wright on rehabbing enough to get back out on the field one last time before he officially retired.

He continued to speak on the sellout crowd that was there and the atmosphere of the game. “Great memories,” said Wright. “I wish I could’ve gone out on a high note, get a homer, a hit or something, but to be out there, run out there, play third base for a couple innings, get a couple at bats, the ovation from the crowd, I knew it was going to be special when I got there at noon that day and fans were out with signs… One of the greatest memories I have,” stated Wright.