Within that 14-year span, he broke records, made seven All-Star teams, was an elite third baseman both in the field and at the plate, and was the face of a franchise that far too often didn’t come close to meeting the standards he was at. In spite of setbacks, many beyond his control, he carried himself as a true leader—a player that fans could relate to and be proud of. Wright built a legacy that has made him a Mets immortal and among the most Amazin’ to ever wear orange and blue.

Welcome to the Bigs – July 21, 2004

It was meant to be. He rooted for the Mets growing up in the Tidewater area of Virginia. After being drafted in 2001, Wright blossomed in the minor league system and never gave the organization reason to question him as a cornerstone player-in-waiting. David went hitless in his major league debut at Shea Stadium versus the Montreal Expos, but made several impressive plays in the field. The necessary tools to become the third base fixture and team leader were evident.

Although it was a small sample size of 69 games and 263 at-bats, Wright finished ’04 with a .293 batting average, 14 home runs, and 40 RBIs while carrying himself in a manner unusual for a 21-year-old. It was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal Mets season.

Glove Not Required – August 9, 2005

Easily his greatest defensive highlight occurred at Petco Park during his first full big-league season. San Diego’s Brian Giles lifted a soft fly ball over Wright’s head in the seventh inning—a certain hit (usually). It would’ve been tough enough to make the play with a mitt. So as he ran back for the ball, he tracked the trajectory and where it was headed—leaving him little choice about the next course of action.

Wright reached out with his throwing hand. While falling down, he held on to the ball before landing on the grass in shallow left. It was one of the best catches you’ll ever see, by a Met or anyone.

Subway Series Classic – May 19, 2006

What’s the lasting image of David Wright? For many, it’s him running out of the batter’s box after a drive to straightaway center field and leaping with hope multiple times before exulting after he had delivered the game-winning hit to beat Mariano Rivera and the Yankees.

He faced a legendary closer with the score sitting at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth. On a 2-2 pitch, Rivera threw his patented cutter down in the strike zone.

Johnny Damon couldn’t get it. Paul Lo Duca scored to ensure a thrilling victory in one of the best Subway Series games ever. It was also a series that carried extra significance for the Mets, as it came in the midst of their best regular season since the start of the decade, coupled with the emergence of a new face of the franchise.

A Homer Happy All-Star Debut – July 10 & 11, 2006

Ignore the fact that after the Home Run Derby, Wright’s second-half power numbers tailed off significantly. But that night (and the next) was a national coming-out party for David. He ended up second to the Phillies’ Ryan Howard in the derby. But nobody told him the contest was over.

Wright stepped up for his first All-Star Game at-bat and hit a liner off former Met Kenny Rogers in the second inning that cleared the short left-field fence. Wright was one of six Mets selected to the National League squad in a season when the East was already a runaway by the unofficial midway point. The American League’s comeback victory prevented Wright from potentially being the game’s MVP.

Welcome to the Club – September 16, 2007

His third base predecessor Howard Johnson did it three times. Darryl Strawberry accomplished it as well. Now it was Wright’s turn to enter the select 30-homer, 30-steal circle. An opposite-field homer against Philadelphia made David the first 30-30 Met since HoJo in 1991.

While September 2007 was certainly a month to forget for his team, Wright did not suffer down the stretch. In fact, he had a 1.034 OPS over the regular season’s final 27 games and would’ve made a strong case for NL MVP if the Mets hadn’t completely cratered.

Lone Walk-off Homer – August 7, 2008

He held the Mets record for walk-off hits before it was broken by Wilmer Flores, but only once did a game-ender leave the park. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the player or the club. Both Wright and the Mets were struggling. New York had lost five of six, and manager Jerry Manuel even considered sitting David for this afternoon’s contest versus the San Diego Padres. But Wright proved his worth. He singled in the first, doubled in the fifth, and punctuated his three-hit day with a two-out, two-run homer against Heath Bell.

First Mets Citi Field Blast – April 13, 2009

Who better? And how ironic also, considering the original canyon-like dimensions helped to severely limit Wright’s power numbers for years to come. After he laced a double down the right field line in the bottom of the first for the Mets’ initial hit in their new ballpark, Wright came up with two on and two out in the fifth, and the Mets down by three. He had enough lift and distance to send it about 390 feet. Back then, that was *barely* enough to get it over “The Great Wall of Flushing.” That briefly tied the score at five, but the San Diego Padres would be the home-opening spoiler.

The Hit King – September 26, 2012

He had already become the leader in nearly every significant offensive category: RBIs, runs scored, extra-base hits, and total bases. A little more than eight years into his career, David surpassed Ed Kranepool for the most hits ever by a New York Met. But it didn’t happen in typical David Wright fashion. The record-breaker was a dribbler down the third-base line. The attempted throw to get Wright out sailed wide of first, and he advanced on the throwing error. But they all count the same. After that infield single, the count was a historic 1,419.

“Captain” Made Official – March 21, 2013

Dating back to his start in the big leagues, Wright embodied the qualities that make a team captain. Eight full seasons into his career, and having signed an extension earlier that off-season, the Mets gave him the title he deserved. Wright became the fourth player in franchise history to have the honor, joining Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and John Franco. It was the first time anyone held the title since Franco left the team in 2004. A leader by example, he exemplified professional success and personal character, which earned respect from those in the clubhouse and throughout the league.

Your All-Star Host – July 16, 2013

When the Mets hosted a Midsummer Classic for the first time in almost 50 years, the man playing in his seventh served as an unofficial ambassador. His duties included participating in the Home Run Derby and receiving the ceremonial first pitch from Tom Seaver, who not surprisingly, has the most All-Star selections of any Amazin’ with nine. Wright also won the fan balloting at third base and manager Bruce Bochy slotted him in the clean-up spot of the starting lineup. He singled in the seventh inning off Greg Holland—the last of his three at-bats in the game and, as it turned out, his final All-Star appearance.

Returning with Thunder – August 24, 2015

In the top of the second inning at Citizens Bank Park, Wright prepared to take his first swing in 133 days. Once a mainstay in the Mets lineup, he had missed over four months. First, it was a hamstring injury, and then, because of the dreaded spinal stenosis, the ailment which would ultimately cause the premature end of his career. It wasn’t a certainty he’d ever return.  Now, Wright was facing Phillies starter Adam Morgan. The 1-1 pitch went over the heart of the plate. David swung and did not miss. It wasn’t just a home run, it was a moonshot.

The Fist-Pump – September 7, 2015

This was the unleashing of stored energy. Wright ran from first base off a liner to right-center by Yoenis Céspedes in the seventh inning of the series opener with the Washington Nationals. The ball was retrieved on the warning track by Bryce Harper. Wright turned for home. With his team eying a first postseason berth since he was a rising star in 2006, the emotion of the moment came out soon after he slid safely ahead of the throw from Anthony Rendon and the tag from Wilson Ramos. The Mets won that day, the next, and ultimately completed a three-game sweep to sew up the division title.

A World Series Homer to Remember – October 30, 2015

He had spent 12 seasons waiting to make the Fall Classic. He had spent many months just hoping to be healthy. In his first World Series at-bat in New York (and the first World Series game at Citi Field) with a runner on base, he sent a towering drive over the left-center field fence and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Wright’s classic swing put the Mets on top, 2-1. New York went on to capture their lone win of the series, 9-3, with Wright tacking on two more RBIs in the sixth with a single to center.

Farewell, Captain – September 28, 2018

On the penultimate day of the regular season, Wright bid goodbye to a New York audience that watched him grow up. With setbacks that would’ve forced a less determined player to quit, Wright was too proud to go out that way. After returning the previous night for his first at-bat in more than two years, an anticipatory sellout crowd at Citi Field was there for the finale. Wright made two plate appearances: drawing a walk in the first and popping out to foul territory in the fourth. Before the fifth inning started, it was time for the final send-off and an ovation that was both long and very much deserved.

The post Captain’s Choice: The Best David Wright Moments appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

We now know the ‘when’ is July 19. That’s the day one of the best in franchise history joins the rest.

It’s easy to claim Wright as a forever Met—not because this is the only organization he played for. The seven-time All-Star took a liking to the team while growing up a deep fly ball away the Triple-A club in Norfolk, VA.

Wright wore orange and blue for 14 seasons, breaking the team record in hits, runs scored, total bases, and batted in, and compiling the highest bWAR among position players. And he did it with professionalism and joy that fellow Mets fans could be proud of.

He excelled through the minor-league system after being drafted in 2001. For more than 40 seasons, the Mets pretty much had a revolving door at the third base position. July 21, 2004 ended that. It wouldn’t be long before his on-field skill and pleasant off-field demeanor were readily present.

Wright didn’t wilt in the New York spotlight. By his second full season, he had fully embraced it. Meanwhile, the Mets were emerging as a National League force.

In 2006, Wright reached his first postseason. The Mets cruised to the division title behind the best in the game at the hot corner. Wright was one of two NL players to bat better than .310 with 25 homers, 116 RBIs, and 40 doubles.

Fast-forward to 2015, and Wright was in the postseason again—his second and final time. In between, there were many successes and setbacks—both for himself and the team he represented.

By historical and logical measures, the Mets had the 2007 NL East title sewn up. But not even a seven-game lead with 17 games remaining was safe. The seams burst over the final three weeks. Wright, however, was not to blame. He had a 1.034 OPS in September with 38 hits and nine doubles. By year’s end, he became the third Met to have a 30-homer, 30-steal season along with a 149 OPS+. It’s a certainty that had New York not relinquished the division to the Phillies, Wright would have been the MVP.

Next year came another late-season demise in spite of Wright’s efforts. During this September, he posted a .993 OPS with a .416 on-base percentage and 21 RBIs. Overall, Wright’s 2008 featured a career-high in homers (33), at least 40 doubles for the fourth straight year, and his 124 RBIs were a single-season team record.

By now, the Mets were now building their roster around Wright. But their new stadium certainly wasn’t. Although he christened Citi Field with the home team’s first home run, long balls were sporadic at best. The dimensions penalized right-handed power hitters, and they especially hurt the team’s biggest name. Wright managed a mere five homers at Citi in 2009 (as opposed to the 21 he hit at Shea in ’08). He had just 10 for the year and struck out an alarming 140 times.

The cavernous Citi Field layout wasn’t the only misfortune. In a year marred by the team’s financial ruin, injury, and underperformances, the typically durable Wright found himself on the disabled list—the result of a rising fastball to the helmet during an at-bat versus San Francisco’s Matt Cain. He was batting .324 at the time. He returned two weeks later with post-concussion symptoms and hit only .239 for the rest of the season.

As the Mets sank deeper into mediocrity, he remained the reliable star fans could cling to. In 2010, despite a higher strikeout rate (24%) and the lowest batting average since his rookie year, he regained his power stroke and hit out 29 while driving in 103 (the fifth time he eclipsed 100 RBIs).

Wright was on a Hall of Fame track as he approached age 30. But 2012 would be the last time he’d play in at least 135 games. From there, we were left to enjoy Wright in small doses. Although he was healthy enough to participate heavily in the All-Star festivities in and around Citi Field in 2013, a right hamstring injury a month later limited him to 58 RBIs. A left rotator cuff contusion early in 2014 cost him a significant portion of his power. He hit only eight home runs.

Dependability had been one of Wright’s signature traits. From 2005 through 2010, he played in 935 of the Mets’ 972 games. Seeing him man third base and bat in the heart of the Mets order had become a summer ritual in Queens. There was little reason to think his May 2011 lower-back stress fracture, which kept him out for two months and derailed any hopes of a productive year, was anything but an aberration. The way he played in 2012, with 21 homers, 93 RBIs, and a .306 average in 156 games quieted any concerns.

Through it all, Wright remained as stand-up a person as ever. He spoke with tact on behalf of the team in good times and in bad. He never threw anyone under the bus even when it would have been very easy to do so. And through this trial by fire, he became the de facto leader in the clubhouse—a role that would only grow in stature.

Following the 2012 season, he agreed to a seven-year contract extension to effectively ensure him “Met-for-life” status. This had been a franchise that shied away from long-term contracts to players in their 30s, but Wright was a special case. He would later be named the fourth captain in team history.

But while he was gaining stature, he was losing opportunities to build a Cooperstown resume. In 2015, while trying to recover from another hamstring issue, he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. This was considered, at best, career-threatening. But Wright was not about to let a pennant race go by without taking part in it.

When the leader of the Mets rejoined the club in August 2015, he homered into the upper deck in Philadelphia in his first at-bat. In a key September matchup with second-place Washington, Wright scored from first base on a double. Unleashing energy and frustration of the recent past, he demonstratively fist-pumped and let out a primal scream as the Mets were closing in on a division title. In the NL East clincher in Cincinnati, he put the icing on the cake to help finish off a blowout victory. And it was appropriate that in the first World Series contest at Citi Field, Wright delivered a booming home run to left field in the opening inning of Game 3.

The 2015 postseason, however, was his last sustained period of on-field action. He could only get through 37 games of 2016 before his back flared up again. Career mortality wasn’t just nipping at his heels, it had him by the ankles and wouldn’t let go.

Wright was too prideful to go out a broken man. With an opportunity to show his appreciation to New York on the field, he vowed to be in uniform for the last series of the 2018 season. On September 29, his final appearance, an anticipatory Citi Field sellout crowd there to say goodbye. Wright charged onto the diamond alone to his customary spot at third base. After four innings, he departed to a long ovation and tears in many eyes.

The announcement of David Wright’s number retirement and induction into the team Hall of Fame coupled with the acquisition of Juan Soto brings about a certain synergy. Money notwithstanding, the 26-year-old superstar chose the Mets above everyone else. When Wright signed his contract extension in November 2012, under much different circumstances, he did the same albeit under much different circumstances. Regardless of what happened after, it was a rare showing of loyalty even if it wasn’t reciprocated.

Wright’s dedication to the Mets—through the best and worst days—is a big reason why he connected so well with the fans. And that’s what will make July 19 so special.

The post Retiring No. 5 is No Doubt the Wright Choice appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Good morning, Mets fans!

Francisco Lindor was named the captain of Team Puerto Rico for the World Baseball Classic. The vote was conducted by the players. The team, led by long-time Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, is headed off to Miami to play exhibition games this week before beginning Pool Play against Nicaragua on Friday.

Latest Mets News

José Quintana has a small stress fracture in his left fifth rib on his left side, the Mets said on Monday. Quintana is headed back to New York to undergo testing. The team does not have a timeline for recovery yet.

Steve Cohen tweeted that he wanted a bigger scoreboard at Citi Field, and the progress at the stadium shows that the scoreboard is much larger than it was previously. Cohen mentioned that at times he would have to squint to see the board in the past.

Here’s a look at the new Citi Field scoreboard.

As Steve Cohen said, he got what he wanted.

📸: @z_mul_ https://t.co/JORGfkFlrD pic.twitter.com/4DXX7AwCsI

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) March 6, 2023

Latest MLB News

Justin Turner was hit in the face by a pitch from Matt Manning of the Tigers, forcing the 38-year-old to be hospitalized. According to his wife, Turner had to get 16 stitches but didn’t suffer any fractures. He’s being monitored for a concussion, but he’s stable, alert, and in good spirits.

Tommy Kahnle is dealing with biceps tendinitis, a similar issue to what he battled in 2018. Kahnle told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com that he thinks it will take about a month to clear up.

Dodgers All-Star Tony Gonsolin rolled his ankle while coming off the field for infield drills on Monday morning. The team says he has a left ankle sprain and likely won’t pitch as scheduled on Wednesday.

Latest on MMO

Mathew Brownstein sat down with Hall of Famer Greg Maddox for an MMO Exclusive interview.

The MMO staff discusses whether Max Scherzer of Justin Verlander should start Opening Day.

On This Date in Mets History

2010: In a spring training contest against the Nationals, Omir Santos hits an inside-the-park grand slam in the bottom of the second inning. The play started with a ground ball down the third-base line, but the ball gets stuck under the left-field fence, allowing Santos to circle the bases.

2019: The Mets sign two-time All-Star Carlos Gómez to a minor-league contract, bringing him back to his original organization. Gómez is coming off a disappointing season with the Rays in 2018, hitting just .208/.298/.336 with nine homers in 408 plate appearances.

Birthdays: Galen Cisco (87), Mauro Gozzo (57), Jeff Kent (55)

The post Morning Briefing: Francisco Lindor Named Captain of Team Puerto Rico appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Credit: USA TODAY

He exuded youthful energy and was also mature beyond his years. That was true even up to his final playing days with a condition that derailed a Hall of Fame career and could sap the kid spirit out of anyone. It’s hard to believe David Wright is now 40. And while that thought makes us feel a little older, here are some memories that have aged very well.

Welcome to the Majors – July 21, 2004

Wright rooted for the Mets while growing up in the Tidewater area of Virginia. He blossomed in the Mets’ minor league system and never gave the organization reason to doubt he was a cornerstone-in-waiting. He went hitless in his big-league debut at Shea Stadium against the Expos, but made several impressive plays in the field. The necessary tools — in play and in presentation — to become the third base fixture and team leader were clearly evident.

Albeit a small sample size of 69 games and 263 at-bats, Wright finished the year with a .293 batting average, 14 home runs, and 40 RBIs while carrying himself in a manner unusual for a 21-year-old. It was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal 2004 season for the Mets.

One-handed, Barehanded Catch – August 9, 2005

Who needs a glove? Wright put out that question while providing the greatest defensive highlight of his career during his first full big-league season. San Diego’s Brian Giles lifted a soft fly ball over Wright’s head in the seventh inning at Petco Park — certain to be a hit into left field. It would’ve been challenging enough to make the catch with a mitt if he could even race back and do that. As he darted back for the ball, he noticed the trajectory and where it was headed — leaving him little choice about his next course of action. Wright reached out with his throwing hand. While falling down, he held on to the ball before landing on the grass in shallow left. It was one of the best grabs you’ll ever see, by a Met or anyone.

Besting Mariano – May 19, 2006

Who could forget this? The drive to deep center field, leaping several times as it drifted toward the warning track, and celebrating after it went beyond the reach of Johnny Damon. As the ball landed by the wall, it scored Paul Lo Duca and capped a thrilling victory in one of the best games in Subway Series history — a series that carried extra significance for the Mets. They enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent memory thanks in part to the emergence of their new face of the franchise.

Wright encountered Mariano Rivera with the score tied at six in the bottom of the ninth. On a 2-2 pitch, he took the Yankee closer’s patented cutter down in the zone to create a signature moment in his career thus far.

A Homer Happy All-Star Debut – July 10 & 11, 2006

We’ll temporarily ignore that after the Home Run Derby, Wright’s second half power numbers tailed off significantly. But that night (and the next) was a national coming-out party for David. He wound up second to Ryan Howard in the derby. But then no one told him the contest was over. Wright came up for his first All-Star Game at-bat and hit a liner off former Met Kenny Rogers in the second inning that cleared the left-field fence. Wright was one of six Mets selected to the NL squad in a season when the East was already a runaway by the unofficial midway point.

Welcome to the Club – September 16, 2007

His third base predecessor (and hitting coach), Howard Johnson did it three times. Darryl Strawberry accomplished it too. Now it was Wright’s turn to enter the 30-homer, 30-steal fraternity. An opposite-field homer against the Phillies made it official and made David the first 30-30 Met since HoJo in 1991. While September 2007 was a month to forget for his team, Wright did not falter. In fact, he had a 1.034 OPS over the regular season’s final 27 games and would’ve made a strong case for NL MVP if the Mets hadn’t totally cratered.

Only Walk-off Homer – August 7, 2008

He held the Mets walk-off record before it was broken by Wilmer Flores, but only once did a game-ender leave the yard. It came against the San Diego Padres and couldn’t have come at a better time for player or club. Both Wright and the Mets were struggling. New York had lost five of six and manager Jerry Manuel even considered sitting David for the afternoon start. But Wright proved his worth with three hits including a two-out, two-run homer off Heath Bell.

Christening Citi Field – April 13, 2009

Who better to get the first Mets home run at Citi Field? And how ironic too, considering the original canyon-like dimensions hamstrung Wright’s power numbers. After he laced a double down the right field line in the bottom of the first for the Mets’ inaugural hit in the new ballpark, Wright came up with two on and two out in the fifth. He had enough lift and distance on his drive to send it about 390 feet and over “The Great Wall of Flushing.” Unfortunately, the San Diego Padres played spoiler in the home opener.

The Hit King – September 26, 2012

He had already become the leader in just about every significant offensive category in team history: RBIs, runs scored, extra-base hits, and total bases. Just over eight years into his career, David surpassed Ed Kranepool for the most hits by a New York Met. But it didn’t happen in typical David Wright fashion. It was a dribbler down the third-base line. The attempt to get Wright at first sailed wide and he advanced to second on the throwing error. But they all count the same. And after that infield single, the count was a historic 1,419.

Captain Wright – March 21, 2013

Ever since his first day in the big leagues, Wright embodied the qualities that make a team captain. Eight full seasons into his career, and having signed a lengthy (and lucrative) contract earlier that off-season, the Mets made it official. In many ways, he’s kept it ever since. Wright became the fourth player in franchise history to have the honor, joining Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and John Franco. It was the first time anyone held the title since Franco left the team in 2004. A leader by example, he exemplified professional success and personal character which earned respect from those in the clubhouse and throughout the league.

All-Star Host – July 16, 2013

On a night the Mets hosted an All-Star Game for the first time in almost a half-century, Wright participating in his seventh mid-summer classic, served as an unofficial ambassador. His duties included catching the ceremonial first pitch from Tom Seaver, who not surprisingly has the most All-Star selections of any Amazin’ with nine. Wright also won the fan balloting at third base and manager Bruce Bochy slotted him in the clean-up spot of the starting lineup. He singled in the seventh off Greg Holland — the last of his three at-bats in the game and, as it turned out, his final All-Star appearance.

Returning with Thunder – August 24, 2015

Wright stepped up to the plate in the top of the second inning at Citizens Bank Park preparing to take his first swing in 133 days. Once a mainstay in the Mets lineup, he had missed over four months: first with a hamstring injury and then because of spinal stenosis, the ailment which would ultimately cause the premature end to his career. It wasn’t a certainty he’d ever return as an active player.  Now Wright was facing Phillies starter Adam Morgan. The 1-1 pitch went over the heart of the plate. David swung and did not miss. Not just a home run, it was a moonshot.

The Fist-Pump – September 7, 2015

It was an unleashing of stored energy. Wright took off from first base on a liner to right-center by Yoenis Céspedes in the seventh inning of the series opener with the Washington Nationals. As the ball was retrieved on the warning track by Bryce Harper, Wright turned for home. Looking to help his team reach the postseason for the first time since he was a rising star in 2006, the emotion came out after he slid safely ahead of the throw from Anthony Rendon and the tag from Wilson Ramos. The Mets won that day, and the next, and then completed a three-game sweep to all but ensure a division title.

World Series Homer at Citi – October 30, 2015

He had spent 12 seasons waiting to reach the Fall Classic. He had spent several months just hoping to return healthy. In his first World Series at-bat in New York (and the first World Series game at Citi Field) with a runner on base, he sent a towering drive over the left-center field fence and into the packed stands. Wright’s classic swing put the Mets on top, 2-1. New York went on to capture their lone win of the series, 9-3, with Wright tacking on two more RBIs in the sixth with a single to center field.

“The Captain” Says Farewell – September 28, 2018

On the penultimate day of the regular season, Wright bid goodbye to a New York audience that watched him grow up before its eyes. With setbacks that would’ve forced a less determined player to give up, Wright was too steadfast to go out a broken man. After returning the night before for the first time in over two years, an anticipatory Citi Field sellout crowd was there for the finale against the Marlins. Wright made two plate appearances: drawing a walk in the first and popping out to foul territory (thanks a lot, Peter O’Brien) in the fourth. Before the fifth inning started, it was time for the final send-off and a long, deserved ovation.

His next Citi Field appearance may very well be when the Mets retire his No. 5 in the left-field rafters.

The post “The Captain” at 40: Celebrating David Wright’s Best Moments appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Ever since his first day in the big leagues, David Wright embodied the qualities that make a team captain. Eight full seasons into his career, the Mets made it official. And in many ways, he’s kept it ever since.

Wright became the fourth player in franchise history to have the honor, joining Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and John Franco and it was the first time anyone held the title since Franco left the team in 2004.

“This is probably one of the proudest days of my career so far,” Wright said at a press conference announcing the news. “I’m honored and very proud to be on that short list of guys that have been considered captain of this franchise. For me, it’s a dream come true, to say the least.”

A leader by example, Wright exemplified professional success and personal character which earned respect from those in the clubhouse and throughout the league.

Wright had recently proven his leadership extended beyond his major league team. He helped carry USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic with several clutch hits — earning a “Captain America” moniker.  He also showed a commitment to the Mets organization by signing an eight-year, $138 million contract in the off-season at a time when many questioned the outlook of the franchise.

The 30-year-old third baseman was still among the best at his position. With six All-Star selections, two Gold Gloves, and two Silver Sluggers, Wright had made several marks in the Mets’ record books. Even when they moved to the canyon-sized dimensions of Citi Field, which severely hampered his power numbers, Wright stayed a consistent hitter — eclipsing a .300 batting average for the sixth time and becoming the club’s all-time hit leader in 2012.

Hernandez, a driving force for the Mets resurgence in the 1980s, was the first to earn captaincy in 1987 — even sporting the ‘C’ on the uniform. He shared the title with Carter a year later and the veterans were co-captains through 1989.

It was Franco’s turn in 2001, a rare honor for a reliever but a deserving one for a respected veteran. A Met since 1990, the native New Yorker became the all-time saves leader among left-handers. When Mike Piazza joined the club in 1998, Franco unselfishly relinquished his No. 31 to the power-hitting catcher.

Wright carried the captain label proudly. Although it would show his healthiest days were behind him, he continued to be the Mets’ ideal representative even when injuries prevented him from being on the field — or even in the dugout. He was named a starter for the All-Star Game at Citi Field in 2013 and slashed .307/.390/.514 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI in 112 games played. During a 14-year career, Wright tallied 242 home runs, 970 RBIs, and produced 133 OPS+.  His 49.2 bWAR is the highest among all position players in Mets history and is second only to Tom Seaver.

There’s a chance a current Met will one day become the fifth captain — whether it be Pete Alonso, Jacob deGrom, or someone else — but it’s hard to envision anyone being more suited for it than David Wright.

The post OTD 2013: David Wright Named Captain appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On July 21, 2004, a 21-year-old top prospect from Virginia made his major league debut for the team he grew up rooting for.

Batting seventh and playing third base, David Wright began a career that seemed destined for eventual enshrinement into the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.

Showcasing extra-base power – with his trademark hits to right-center field – along with good speed on the basepaths, and with charm and charisma that soon made him not only a household name in New York, but the entire Major Leagues, Wright was ascending to superstardom.

From his rookie season in 2004 through the 2013 season, Wright posted the sixth-highest fWAR among position players (48.7). Among 108 players who recorded at least 4,000 plate appearances in that same span, Wright’s wRC+ of 137 was 10th-best.

In 2007, Wright joined Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry as only the third different Mets player to post a 30-30 season, while posting the best triple-slash line of his career with a .325 batting average, .416 on-base percentage, and .546 slugging.

The seven-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman provided countless memories throughout his fourteen-year major league career, including making a bare-handed, over-the-shoulder catch in San Diego in 2005; hitting a walk-off single off Mariano Rivera in the first Subway Series game in 2006; hitting a home run in the first at-bat of his first All-Star Game in 2006 and hitting a go-ahead, two-run home run off Yordano Ventura in the first World Series game in Queens in fifteen years.

What the Mets received in Wright was just about everything an organization could ask for in a player: a hard-working, well-spoken individual who led with his consistent All-Star play on the field, while being the quintessential team representative in the clubhouse and to the media.

It came as no surprise then, when the Mets officially named Wright the fourth captain in franchise history in 2013, joining only Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter and John Franco. The honor bestowed upon Wright was one in which he looks back on fondly, naming it as one of the proudest moments of his professional career.

Wright’s trajectory was pointing towards an eventual plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which makes the latter part of his career all the more unfortunate. Wright’s downfall began back in the 2011 season when he sustained a stress fracture in his back in a diving play at third base with Carlos Lee.

While Wright was able to play in 156 games the following season, finishing sixth in the National League MVP voting and signing an eight-year, $138 million extension that offseason, along with posting a 5.2 bWAR in 112 games in 2013, the star third baseman was given unwelcome news in 2015: the diagnosis of spinal stenosis.

What ensued were countless surgeries to his neck, back, and shoulder, along with strenuous rehab and physical therapy sessions. For Wright, ever the committed hard worker, this was not going to define his career.

He wanted to go out on his own terms.

Wright opens up about his life and career in his upcoming memoir titled “The Captain” (release date of October 13), which was co-written by Mets’ beat writer for MLB.com Anthony DiComo. The book reveals the mental and physical struggles Wright endured to make it back onto the field, which he was able to do late in the second half of the Mets’ pennant-winning season in 2015.

The memoir offers a glimpse into just how arduous Wright’s efforts were to get back to playing the game he so loved. Wright details early on in his book how his father, Rhon Wright, had a chance to leave the hospital for a few hours after David was born, and instead of getting rest, he found himself purchasing a plastic glove, a kid-sized Louisville Slugger and a baseball.

As Wright puts it in the early pages of his memoir, “From the time that I could walk, everything on both sides of my family revolved around a ball and a bat.”

Among all-time Mets, Wright is the franchise leader in plate appearances (6,872), hits (1,777), doubles (390), runs scored (949), RBI (970), walks (762), and position player bWAR (49.2), while second in games played (1,585) and home runs (242).

Though the latter part of his career was marred by injuries, Wright will forever be revered by the fan base for posting some of the best single-season performances in club history, his leadership on and off the field, and incredible perseverance to return to the field.

The name David Wright will forever be synonymous with the New York Mets.

I had the privilege of speaking with Wright in early October, where we discussed writing his memoir, the injury struggles he faced, and how important it was to say goodbye to the New York fans.

MMO: David, thanks so much for taking the time today. Talk to me about what prompted you to write the book and what the overall process was like.

Wright: It’s funny; Anthony DiComo approached me shortly after my last game. He was down in San Diego for the general managers’ meetings, I believe. He asked if he could drive up – I’m in Southern California as well – and meet about an idea he had.

I told him, ‘Okay, we can go grab some lunch.’

He came up and said, “Hey, I’m going to write a book, and there are three options that you can do. You can have nothing to do with it, and I kind of do it all on my own; you can sort of be involved, but I’d take the lead, or, we can do this fifty-fifty where we both write it. But that’s going to require a lot of your time.”

I thought about it for a little while, and I told him I’d like to go all-in when I do things.

I said, ‘Let’s partner up and do it the right way.’

Dutton

It was a tremendous process, and, obviously, with COVID, it didn’t allow for some of the in-person stuff that I would’ve liked to do, but we spent dozens and dozens of hours on the phone. And he spent even more time connecting with childhood friends, teammates from amateur ball, the minor leagues, and, obviously, the big leagues, and talking to my family and friends.

It was a cool process to go through. I was probably as guilty as anybody during my career of not allowing myself to enjoy the moment or enjoy steps of my career. When you’re a player, at least for me, it was always onto the next challenge. What can I do to improve? I never got a chance to sit back and watch highlights or big games that we won or things like that.

Going through all of that and combing through it after my career was done put a big smile on my face and allowed me to kind of relive these memories that are some of the greatest that I’m going to have in my life.

I got a chance to pick out thirty or so pictures for the book – personal pictures – and my parents do a great job of organizing and keeping stuff from my childhood. They sent me three of four huge boxes of pictures from when I was born all the way to pictures they took in the stands [of me] in the big leagues. Getting the chance to relive some of those memories was pretty cool.

MMO: Family is something that you write extensively about in your book. Can you talk a little about your upbringing and the values your parents instilled in you to become the man you are today?

Wright: My parents were strict. Being punctual was important; being a good citizen was important; being a good student was important, way more important than being a good baseball player. I’d like to think that’s where I get that blue-collar mentality, that bring your lunch pail to work type mentality.

My dad was a police officer, and my mother worked in the school system, and it was certainly being a good student and being a good citizen before being a good baseball player.

My dad never, ever said a word to me when I had a bad game and when I struck out three times. I’m not saying he didn’t care; that just wasn’t the important thing; it was how I reacted to both failure and success. If I struck out and hung my head and went and moped in the dugout and didn’t cheer my teammates on, that’s when I’d get a talking to.

Likewise, if I got a couple of hits and I was gloating and running around and we lost or the team was losing, I’d get a talking to. [It was] this isn’t the way you carry yourself; you have to be in the game, and you’re all in this together.

I think that kind of mindset stuck with me for the rest of my baseball career, which was this isn’t about me; this is about us as a team, and what can I do to not only make the guys around me better but be a good person, teammate and leader in that clubhouse.

MMO: One thing I took away from the early part of your book was that you used wooden bats at times instead of aluminum because you were a bigger kid. Do you think that gave you an advantage at a young age and helped develop your approach at the plate?

Wright: That’s a great question, and you’re very kind with that: I was pretty chunky. More round than heavy. [Laughs.]

I think it taught me a couple of things. One was taking care of yourself physically. Number two is I was lucky where my parents would do everything in their power to send me to different baseball camps, and financially, that can be quite expensive, especially with a police officer and mother who worked in the school system. But they did everything they could to get me the best instruction that the area had to offer, and believe it or not, that area is a hotbed for baseball and pretty good baseball instruction.

At a young age, I had some instructors who put wooden bats in my hands, and this was a foreign concept to me because everyone else was using aluminum bats. And they were going a lot further and they were hitting a lot harder, but the instructors that I was seeing were saying, “This is going to make you a better hitter.”

I certainly think that using the heavier wooden bat allowed me to utilize the right side of the baseball field, hitting the ball the other way better than if I had just used aluminum through my upbringing. Maybe it was because the bat was a little heavier and I couldn’t quite get it around as fast forced me to keep my hands inside and shoot it the other way.

I think it definitely made me a better hitter at the time, practicing and even in some games using wooden bats at a relatively young age at the advice of some of the instructors that I had.

MMO: A player you give a ton of credit to for taking you under their wing was super-utility man Joe McEwing. What made McEwing such a valuable ally for you in the beginnings of your major league career?

Wright: I got lucky when, in the minor leagues, I was roommates for a few years with Matt Galante. His father happened to be our third base coach in the big leagues, Matt Galante Sr.

I was roommates with Matt Jr. for years in the minor leagues, and we played in Port St. Lucie in High-A ball. If we got an off day and the Mets happened to be playing down in Miami, we would take the trip down, and his dad would put us up at the team hotel and take us out to dinner.

Matt Galante Sr. and Joe McEwing had a tremendous relationship, so Joe would tag along to some of those dinners. I got to know Joe when I was in the minor leagues, and, fortunately, when I got called up, he immediately took me under his wing. Everything from I rented an apartment right next to his, teaching me directions like how to get to the ballpark, how to dress, what time to show up, and how to prepare for a game.

He told me I’d be pulled in all sorts of directions, but baseball is your number one priority. He taught me these lessons that stuck with me for the rest of my career.

He and his wife cooked dinner for me on a pretty regular basis. After my first game, I was exhausted, but he took me out to my first dinner in New York as a young player. He just seemed to be beyond a teammate; he was a friend or an older brother type. He really cared for me in a way that made me feel comfortable around some of those other veteran guys.

When I got called up, it was a very veteran team. I think being that comfortable and Joe making me that comfortable allowed me to have some of the success that I had early on.

MMO: From afar, you never seem fazed by the spotlight and media attention you received early on in your career. And as you developed, you basically became the Mets’ version of Derek Jeter in terms of being available and upfront with the media, along with doing the right things on and off the field. Did that come easily for you, and were there ever certain challenges you faced with how you wanted to be viewed and represented?

Wright: My father always said, when someone asked him, because everyone thinks they have the next Derek Jeter as a son, or have the next Mike Trout, how did you get your son to be a first-round pick? How did you get your son to be a major leaguer? How did you get your son to be an All-Star?

And he said, “I never set out to raise a good baseball player; I set out to raise a good person.”

I was always nervous of when I spoke to the media or the way I carried myself on and off the field, that I would somehow embarrass my family or somehow let down my mother and father, who raised me to be a specific type of person with the way that I carried myself. So that was always in the back of my mind of how would my three youngest brothers view me if I went out and did something stupid and embarrass myself? That was always in the back of my mind when I made decisions.

I had some great coaches along the way in the amateur levels, minor leagues and big leagues. I’ll never forget our minor league coordinator at the time, and he’s still with the Mets in a different role, Guy Conti. He always said, “You have choices, decisions and consequences.”

That stuck with me forever. To this day, I still think of choices, decisions and consequences, and that’s kind of the way that I’ve tried to treat my baseball career, and that’s kind of the way that I try to live my life away from baseball.

It sounds simple, but it always stuck with me.

MMO: You write that “you’ll always remember the 2006 season as the year in which everything seemed to click.” What memories stand out to you about that season, and what made that club so special in your eyes?

Wright: For me, it was my first taste of the playoffs. But I think just the superstar talent [we had]. I mean, we had future Hall of Famers, we had perennial All-Stars, and you had a good mix of a veteran presence but also some young and up-and-coming guys that brought energy, especially the guy to my left in José Reyes.

I think it was a good mix, and it taught me that I don’t think you can learn how to win until you actually practice it. It’s tough to sit there and talk about you have to have this winning mentality; you have to have this winning culture. You don’t know what that is until you win and you experience what that culture is like and practice winning, especially practice winning baseball.

I think that year I learned how fun it is to win, how exciting it is to win, how New York embraces winners and not necessarily great single-season performers. When I was a younger player in the minor leagues, and even when I got to the big leagues, I saw how the ’86 guys were embraced, everybody from the superstars of that team down to the 25^th man on the roster. You say the name of a guy who was on that ’86 team, and people raise a glass in the city and cheer them to this day. And that’s kind of what I wanted to be remembered as. I knew that at a young age, that’s what I wanted to be remembered as.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it all the way. But that’s the style of baseball that I wanted to play on a nightly basis was that style of winning baseball where you want your legacy to be not that he had some great years, but he played the game the right way, and he played winning baseball.

MMO: A lot has been made about the original construction of Citi Field, and how it zapped you of some power. You write that you “could have – or should have – used Citi Field to your advantage,” and how the ’09 season exposed some holes in your offensive game. What did you have to do to mentally and physically adjust your game to play at the ballpark?

Wright: That’s a good question, and it’s a fair question. I was accustomed to, by the time Citi Field was built at the end of the year, seeing a specific stat line, and it’s a terrible way to think. But when you get out of that comfort zone and you see a weakness like I’m accustomed to hitting 25-30 home runs a year, then all of a sudden you hit less than half of that, it shocked my system a little bit.

And it was like, I need to get back to being that type of hitter; this team needs me to be that type of hitter.

Instead of doing what I should’ve done [which was] thinking the homers will come, but let’s be a more complete hitter. Instead of hitting .300 or .310 or .320, I can use this to my advantage to hit .330, .340.

One of my strengths was going the other way: utilizing those gaps and utilizing all that room in the outfield for more base hits, take what the pitcher gives you. All of those clichés that you hear hitters say. Instead, for whatever reason, it was I’ve got to hit more homers.

I think that I got out of my comfort zone in trying to hit more homers, and it cost me being the complete hitter that I was, and that I still was after that. For that next year, yes, I hit more homers, but I struck out a lot more, and I didn’t feel like I was that complete hitter that I was before I started making some of those adjustments.

Hindsight’s 20/20, but I wish that I could go back and say, forget the home runs, be the hitter that you are, and let’s utilize this as an advantage.

MMO: The Matt Cain hit-by-pitch on August 15, 2009, is a date I’m sure you’d like to forget. But what I found to be interesting is that you enlisted Howard Johnson to help regain your mechanics at the plate. What did you and HoJo work on to get your confidence back?

Wright: I think that every player – you’re not afraid of getting hit by the ball – but you accept the reality that there’s going to be times that you get hit, and hopefully, it’s in a spot that’s an ideal spot to get hit if there is such a thing. But for me, it was kind of the first time that I took a direct hit to my head. It shook me for a little bit; I think it would shake a lot of people.

It wasn’t this thing where I got back in the box afterward, and I was scared; that wasn’t the case. I think it was just this natural reaction that I had to overcome this, hey, look, this was a hopefully once-in-a-lifetime type ordeal, and just relax and think about hitting instead of thinking about the mechanics of hitting and how to get back on the horse after you’ve been knocked off.

I never felt scared; it was more of I couldn’t get back to the feeling that I felt before getting hit. It should be easy, like riding a bike, but I found it incredibly difficult to learn how to pedal again afterward for a couple of months.

The thing that kind of got me over it was getting hit again, not in the head, but I got hit with a pitch after that, and it was like, that was no big deal. I went to first base, and all of a sudden, I got comfortable.

It was just one of those weird things where I wasn’t consciously scared or nervous or anything; it was more just like I couldn’t get comfortable in the box again for a little bit after that. That was probably the best thing for me afterward was getting hit by another pitch and kind of telling yourself that this wasn’t bad at all.

MMO: You write in the book that people ask you about having any regrets from your baseball career, and you admit that, of course, there are a few small things you would’ve done differently. But the one that stands out was the play at third with Carlos Lee on April 19, 2011. How often do you think back to that moment, and at what point did you realize something wasn’t right physically?

Wright: Going through all of my back rehab and all of my back issues the last couple of years, I thought about it a lot. [Laughs.] I think it’s just one of those things that it was a freak play; it was so out of the ordinary that it’s just I’d like to think that I tried to play the game hard, and if that same play were to happen and if I didn’t have the hindsight of what I know now, I’d probably do the same thing.

It’s a foot race to the bag, and we dove at the same time. I just happened to jam my shoulder and my neck into the ground at a weird angle, which fractured a vertebra. I definitely didn’t know it at the time that I hurt something, but I didn’t know it at the time that it would ultimately really kill my back years down the road.

It was just one of those plays that, do I wish I would’ve let up and allowed him to take third? Do I wish I were a little faster where I could just beat him there and not have to dive? Of course! But it wasn’t the case, and I tried to play every out like it was the most important out ever.

It was one of those freak accidents and freak plays that, do I think about it a lot? Of course. Is there anything I can do to go back and change it? Of course not. It’s one of those it is what it is types of things where I wouldn’t call it a regret, but I used to think about it fairly often.

MMO: Dr. Altchek gave you the news about your spinal stenosis diagnosis in 2015. What was your initial reaction upon hearing that, and can you describe some of the rehab and stretching you had to do each day?

Wright: The rehab I do on a daily basis to this day, I’ll do it for the rest of my life. It’s a routine that kind of strengthens the area and gives me the best chance of not being in pain on a consistent basis.

I’d say the initial reaction was kind of in shock, and you hang your head and feel sorry for yourself for a couple of days afterward. And I was no different. I mean, when you look at the diagnosis and the outcome, it’s not very positive for anybody, much less somebody that’s supposed to be in their prime in baseball.

After I got over that initial shock and moping around for a few days, it became my goal to kind of prove that wrong and get over that mental hurdle of kind of feeling sorry for yourself and saying, ‘You know what? It is what it is. It’s a bad break, but I’m going to make it back on this field. I’m going to prove everybody wrong, and I’m going to help this team win.’

That was kind of my mindset, and it helped that the team was having a good year. Every night I sat and watched the team after two rehab sessions and the monotony of going through my back exercises twice a day and rehab another time of day, it became evident that these September games were going to mean something in 2015. That gave me a ton of extra motivation.

The guys on that team were in constant communication, whether it was through FaceTime or phone calls on the team bus or before and after games. That kept me feeling like I was a part of the team.

But certainly devastating is a good word to use when I got the news. My mantra for the rest of my career was, ‘I’m not going to allow this to define me.’ Ultimately, it would be one of the main factors that ended my career. But mentally, it was always that, when I look back on my career, it’s not going to be I feel sorry for myself because I got hurt. It’s going to be I did everything in my power to overcome this, and as much as I can, go out on my own terms.

MMO: Where does your home run in Game 3 of the 2015 World Series rank in your career?

Wright: There’s not even a close second. Playing in the World Series, in New York, for that organization, in front of those fans. “A dream come true” gets thrown around pretty often, but it really was.

I remember growing up in Virginia, and our family was Mets fans because of our Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk. Standing in the backyard with my dad and my grandfather and Game 7 of the World Series. I know we didn’t make it to Game 7 – but [the] New York Mets are up to bat, and here comes shortstop David Wright; at the time I played shortstop, albeit a little pudgy shortstop. Here comes the 3-2 pitch, whack, home run!

To be able to live out that dream in New York for the team that I grew up rooting for, the team that drafted and developed me [was a dream come true]. It was one of the few times where I was rounding the bases and looking up at the stands allowed me to kind of soak it in and enjoy the moment because of, selfishly and personally, all the hard work that I had put in to get back on the field. Those months of rehab and getting up at the crack of dawn to do one rehab session followed by another physical therapy session, followed by having to do back exercises on my own, you think about all of these things as you’re rounding the bases.

You felt like you accomplished the goal of not only getting back, but making an impact, and, obviously, being a small part of the team going to the World Series was a lifelong goal. I just wish we could’ve finished it off and become champions.

MMO: You write that during the 2018 season, you weren’t always honest with the Mets about how you were feeling, and that had they known more, they would’ve shut you down. At what point during your rehab did you come to the conclusion that your body just couldn’t handle the grind anymore?

Wright: For me, it was fairly evident. I’ve always loved the game. I’ve always loved playing the game, practicing the game, even the most boring drills I always found enjoyable in a weird way because I was getting the chance to play baseball, because that’s what I loved to do.

When it became tedious and painful and just trying to get through [it] without aggravating an injury, I remember playing in some of my first rehab games and just hoping and praying that they didn’t hit the ball to me. Just hoping that the pitcher would throw a fast, quick game and I wouldn’t be on my feet for very long at third base. Rooting for just trying to make simple contact at the plate so that I didn’t swing and miss or check swing and really hurt something.

It just became that you can’t play the game that way. Physically, it was one of those things where I was always fighting mentally that you can do this, you’ve got this, and you’ll overcome this. But then physically it’s like no, you don’t, and you can’t go on doing this.

It took a while for my mind and my body to match up, but once I was honest with myself, it became pretty clear that physically I couldn’t do it.

MMO: I was fortunate enough to attend your last major league game on September 29, 2018, and it felt like a playoff atmosphere. What was the overall day like for you?

Wright: It’s emotional to even think about. I sat down, and I kind of asked that I’d like to wear the uniform one more time, that I’d like to play in front of my kids and like to properly say goodbye to the organization and the fans. I knew it was a big ask because I hadn’t played in a while, and I knew there would be some hurdles that we had to jump. But when I got the go-ahead, I didn’t know what to expect.

I knew that it would be a big deal for me personally, because I had been a Met for over half my life, so it was going to be an emotional day for me. I didn’t know how the city or the fans would deal with it. I showed up to the ballpark at my usual time – around noon – and there were dozens of fans already waiting. When I went out and shook some hands, took some pictures, and signed some autographs, I was overwhelmed and shocked by the support that night.

When I ran out onto the field for the first time and saw that it was sold out, just the signs and the thank-you’s, I kept telling myself that it should be the opposite and I should be thanking the fans. They’ve seen me fail way more than they’ve seen me succeed. For them to come out in full force and thank me for an injury-shortened career where no World Series titles to show for it, a handful of playoff berths, and a National League pennant meant the world to me to have that kind of send-off and support.

Every athlete wants to kind of write their last chapter, and I certainly didn’t get the opportunity to do that. But for one day to have that emotional send-off really meant the world to me. That’s why I love New York so much and this organization so much, because of that bond from a relatively young age of just connecting with the city and fans. I think that’s the type of relationship that I think every player dreams of having with their city and their fans, and I was lucky enough to have that.

MMO: And you know New Yorkers will never let Peter O’Brien hear the end of it.

Wright: [Laughs.] And that’s what makes New York so great, is that I hate that for him, but it was so cool. I appreciated it.

MMO: When you look back over your career, David, what are you most proud of?

Wright: I would say a couple of things. One was being viewed as a leader and, ultimately, becoming a captain of that franchise. That’s probably my greatest personal achievement: that my teammates, front office, and ownership viewed me as a captain-type leader in the clubhouse.

More broadly, although I would’ve liked to have played injury-free in my last few years, I’d like to think that when I put my head on my pillow at night that I maximized my potential. That a six-foot, two-hundred-pound kid from Southeast Virginia, who wasn’t the most talented player out there, genuinely felt like when I took the field every night, I was the hardest worker out there and I was the most prepared. For that night, my mindset was to be the best player out on this field, and that didn’t matter if Derek Jeter was across the diamond, or Barry Bonds, or Mike Trout. It didn’t matter who; I felt like I was more prepared and worked harder than everyone else, and for that reason, I was going to be the best player on the field.

I’d like to think that I reached my full potential as a baseball player, given the abilities that I had. But more importantly, I was viewed as a leader and a good teammate and, ultimately, became the captain of this great franchise.

MMO: Thank you so much for your time, David. It was an honor speaking with you.

Wright: Awesome, Mat. I appreciate the kind words. Thanks again.

Purchase David’s memoir, “The Captain,” here.

The post MMO Exclusive: The Captain, David Wright appeared first on Metsmerized Online.