Photo: Ed Delany, Metsmerized Online
New York Mets third baseman David Wright threw the baseball on Tuesday, although it was on a back field away from prying eyes, two days after throwing for the first time since having season-ending neck surgery last June.
“We don’t want him overexposed to where if he makes a bad throw, all of a sudden, it’s a big story,” manager Terry Collins said. “We want to make sure that when he’s out there throwing that he’s ready to let it loose.”
Wright, 34, also took grounders at third base and participated in various drills with his teammates.
Photo: Ed Delany, Metsmerized Online
Wright also participated in batting practice on Tuesday afternoon alongside Lucas Duda and Travis d’Arnaud. He was in very good spirits and seemed to be spending time with just about all of his teammates that were all doing things in smaller groups.
Photo: Ed Delany, Metsmerized Online
Wright gets ready to take his turn in the batting cage after Lucas Duda launched a few balls into the stratosphere. Tough act to follow.
Photo: Ed Delany, Metsmerized Online
After taking his turn in the cage Wright just crouched down and watched everything that was going on throughout Tradition Field. A penny for his thoughts.
I’m reminded of something Wright said in an interview this offseason that really made me think about what he must be going through. He told a story of some kid coming up to him and asking, “Do you still play?”
“That’s how little I’ve played,” said Wright to Kevin Kernan last month. “This is the longest stretch I haven’t played baseball in my life.”
“Health is extremely important, but I have to go out there and do what I’m capable of doing. …This is not about being a feel-good story, we’re trying to win. There are no personal feel-good stories. There is a fire burning inside of me to succeed.”
