David Wright missed the entirety of the 2017. In the previous two seasons before that combined, he appeared in just 75 games total while dealing with a plethora of injuries including spinal stenosis.

The third baseman had his rehab shut down late this past season, a sign many believed could signal the end to Wright’s illustrious career as a Met. However, his most recent laminotomy  procedure was done so that he has a better chance of returning to big league action.

According to a report by Abbey Mastracco of New Jersey Advanced Media, Dr. Andrew Hecht, orthopedic surgeon and chief of spine surgery for the Mount Sinai Health System who is familiar with Dr. Robert Watkins, Wright’s surgeon in Los Angeles, said that this surgery gives him a better chance of returning.

Hecht, who has performed laminotomy procedures on several athletes including members of the Jets and Islanders, also said the success rate in returning from this procedure is high and the recovery process is quick. It will also help mitigate the effects and pain of spinal stenosis.

For those who don’t know, laminotomy is described as an “orthopedic neurosurgical procedure that removes part of the lamina of a vertebral arch in order to relieve pressure in the vertebral canal.”

“Laminotomy is an operation typically done to relieve pressure on a nerve,” Dr. Hecht told New Jersey Advance Media. “The two most common reasons to get laminotomies is for people who have what’s called spinal stenosis or a disk herniation. In David Wright’s case, he has spinal stenosis, so what that does is it creates extra room for the nerve to relieve the compression that’s being placed upon it. It’s a very straightforward procedure with a high success rate.”

Hecht added that the typical rehabilitation period is about three months.

While Wright still has to deal with the disk fusion surgery and rotator cuff surgery he underwent, which will still take 6-9 months to rehab, the laminotomy procedure can help greatly reduce pain in the buttocks or upper thighs caused by nerve compression.

It’s a procedure that is typically done when all other options have been exhausted, but one that is necessary in Wright’s case. The 34-year-old has done all he could to go the conservative route up to this point.

“After a rehab period, that will be, hopefully, put in the rearview mirror so David Wright can resume active participation in professional baseball,” Brecht told New Jersey Advanced Media. “All of this is to try and get him as pain-free as humanly possible to his ability to play baseball is his decision and not anyone else’s.”

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The Mets have announced that David Wright will be the designated hitter for Single-A St. Lucie on Tuesday night in their game against the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

Wright, 34, has missed the entirety of the 2017 season thus far with a right shoulder impingement, however he began baseball activities earlier this month.

It’s been rough for the third baseman, who has appeared in just 75 games total over the last two seasons.

There is no one who wants to be on the field more than the captain and just him being able to play through his spinal stenosis that he was diagnosed with in 2015 is incredible.

Wright owns a 49.9 career WAR and is a career .296/.376/.491 hitter across 13 big league seasons.

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Speaking at his own charity event, David Wright made it clear that all the work he is putting in to stay in shape is not for any other reason than a passion for the game and a desire to win.

“Health is extremely important, but I have to go out there and do what I’m capable of doing,” Wright said in an interview with Kevin Kernan of the NY Post.

“That’s just as much in the equation as staying healthy, playing well. 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.”

The event was the 7th annual David Wright Vegas Night at the Virgina Beach Convention Center, which raises money for the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.

Also attending was long-time friend and former met Michael Cuddyer. Of Wright, he said, “Hey, I know when it’s time to retire. To succeed, first and foremost it’s a mindset. You’ve got to get yourself in the mindset that you are not going to go through the motions.”

“He’s in the mindset I’m not only going to prove myself right, I’m going to prove everybody else right that has stuck with me, that I am going out and battle. I’m going to do my best to get this team back to the World Series.”

Another person attending the event that knows Wright pretty well was his wife Molly, who said, “David is a fighter, he is so determined to get back on the field, literally he will do whatever it takes.”

“I’ve had people come up to me the last couple of weeks and ask: ‘Do you still play?’ That’s how little I’ve played,” said Wright. “This is the longest stretch I haven’t played baseball in my life.” Wright, 34, has managed to play in only 75 games over the past two seasons, batting .260/.365/.436 with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs.

I can speak from my own experience in this case. I play baseball at Ithaca College and have torn the ACL in my right knee twice in the last three years. I have worked my way back and will be pitching again this season for a team that expects to win the Division III College World Series. People ask me why I went through so much rehab (so much) and my answer would be the same as Wright’s: I love the game and I want to win. He doesn’t want my sympathy, but he sure as hell gets my empathy.

David Wright, though, has gone through much more than just two ACL tears. Not only did he have neck surgery, not only is he dealing with a chronic issue of spinal stenosis, but he is under the scrutiny of the New York spotlight.

I am tremendously impressed with how he has carried himself under these circumstances and how perfectly he has said what he has wanted to say – He wants to win, and no herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or spotlight can stand in the way of him doing just that.

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Mets captain David Wright will be ready for Spring Training, barring any setbacks. In addition to fighting spinal stenosis, Wright’s season was derailed by a herniated disc in his neck. He had surgery to repair it, and he is meeting with his surgeon in December to be cleared for baseball activities.

Wright, 33, has shown time and time again to be one of the most resilient players out there. He is a fantastic clubhouse leader, with young and old players alike praising his resilience. Playing in 37 games in 2016, Wright slashed .226/.350/.438 with seven home runs, 14 RBIs, and three stolen bases.

Easily one of the best all-time Mets, Wright has a stellar .296 career batting average to go with 242 home runs, 1,777 hits, and 970 RBIs. The seven-time All Star has won two Gold Glove Awards, two Silver Sluggers, and has finished in the top-ten of MVP voting four times.

With his spinal stenosis, Wright can not be expected to play every day, but it’s reasonable to ask for somewhere in the vicinity of 100-115 games played including pinch-hitting appearances. If he stays healthy, he would be a valuable weapon, especially against lefty pitchers against whom he has a career .337 batting average.

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I have to admit, when going online Thursday afternoon and reading the breaking news that David Wright would be undergoing neck surgery to repair a herniated disk, I paused for a moment and reflected on what that news meant.

Yes, the news meant that Wright will more than likely miss the remainder of the 2016 season, but it also might spell the beginning of the end for the 33-year-old. Not only does Wright have this herniated disk in his neck, he’s also dealing with spinal stenosis, which had many already fearing that he wouldn’t live out the remainder of his contract.

Wright still has $87 million owed to him through the 2020 season, but many fans and writers feel that there is simply better odds of winning the Power-ball than Wright playing out his deal. The Mets do have insurance on his contract, where they can recoup 75 percent of his contract once he misses more than 60 consecutive games.

So while the Mets’ brain trust meets and discusses the plans going forward as to who should shoulder the third base duties for the remainder of the season and potentially the future, it’s hard not to get a bit sentimental about our captain, who has endeared himself to the fans and media alike with his winning attitude, his humble nature, and All-Star years he compiled for our team.

It feels like ages ago that Wright was making his Major League debut on July 21, 2004 against the then Montreal Expos as a 21-year-old kid. Wright progressed through the minor league ranks and was regularly featured as a top prospect by Baseball America, garnering the attention of fans who were hoping that Wright could give the Mets a cornerstone third baseman that they haven’t had since Robin Ventura for three seasons and before that Howard Johnson in the late eighties to early nineties.

Wright went on to blossom into one of the best players in the game, and from his rookie year in 2004 through the 37 games played this year, Wright amassed a line of .296/.376/.491 for an OPS of .867. He slugged 242 home runs during that time, and had an OPS+ of 133. For similar comparisons, take a look at what other prominent third baseman have done in similar time frames.

Adrian Beltre-2004-2016: .294/.344/.497 .840 OPS, 324 home runs, .123 OPS+

Evan Longoria-2008-2016: .271/.347/.488 .835 OPS, 221 home runs, .129 OPS+

Scott Rolen-1997-2008: .283/.371/.504 .875 OPS, 268 home runs, .126 OPS+

Wright would also go on to eclipse Mets’ records and become the team league leaders in a myriad of categories, including runs batted in (970), walks (761), doubles (390), runs scored (949), hits (1777), and extra-base-hits (658). Wright remains 270 games shy from tying the Mets’ all time leader in games played, which is still held by Ed Kranepool.

As an avid fan who watched Wright be the elder statesman on this team, who could’ve pouted and demanded to be traded to a contender, who day in and day out stood by his locker after good and bad games, he epitomized everything you could’ve hoped to have in a baseball player. He’s the type of player that a father would by a jersey of for his son or daughter, and be proud to root for because he played the game with dignity and class. There was nary a scandal with Wright that got the attention of Page Six in the newspapers, he simply left it all out on the diamond.

Wright released a statement through the team Thursday, speaking on how upset he was that the rehab did not suffice, and has to have the surgery.

“After trying every way to get back on the field, I’ve come to realize that it’s best for me, my teammates and the organization to proceed with surgery at this time,” Wright said in a statement released by the team. “My neck simply did not respond to any of the treatments of the past few week. While incredibly frustrating and disappointing, I am determined to make a full recovery and get back on the field as soon as I can to help the Mets win.”

It’s valiant of him to hope to try and get back onto the field, and of course he cannot say that his career is over and thanks for the memories. But the idea has to have crept into his mind, he has to be thinking long term for his health, and not just for the four more years on his contract. David was married in 2013 to long time girlfriend Molly Beers, and surely would want to start a family one day. If his back and neck keep taking hits on the field, it would be awful to think that he wouldn’t be able to bend down and pick up his kids and play with them. I’m sure he’s receiving council on what the long term plan should be, but in the mean time he’s preparing to give it a try and get back to wearing the number five jersey as quickly as possible.

I’m not alone when I wish David all the best and to a speedy recovery. As a fan, it’s been a pleasure rooting for him, because he made it easy to do so. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Wright on several occasions growing up, and every single time he was gracious and accommodating, which can be somewhat of a rarity in today’s game where superstar egos get in the way. I hope Wright finds solace in the fact that the organization supports him, his teammates care for him, and the fans will always have a special place in their hearts for the captain.

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Sandy Alderson spoke to reporters at Citi Field and said that David Wright is discussing possible neck surgery with Dr. Robert Watkins. He is in consultation with team doctors and they will soon make a decision on continuing therapy or opting for surgery.

“By the end of this week we’ll know something more about David’s situation,” Alderson said.

Wright was initially expected to rest and cease all baseball activities for 6-8 weeks after being diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck.

The Mets captain is currently undergoing physiotherapy.  Additionally, he continues to deal with his spinal stenosis condition.

Alderson also told reporters that moving Neil Walker to third base and promoting Dilson Herrera is not an option right now and he believes it would disrupt the middle infield alignment which has been solid defensively.

The hits keep on coming for David Wright as any surgery will be season-ending. If that were to happen, the Mets can recoup 75 percent of his remaining salary in 2016 after he misses 60 consecutive days.

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It’s time to talk about David Wright. He’s on a short list for greatest position players to ever play for the Mets and on an even shorter list of homegrown position players. Since 2004, he’s allowed the Mets to not have to worry about third base. He holds a handful of the team’s franchise records. He’s gracefully been the face of the franchise in New York City for over a decade with little controversy ever surrounding him. And sooner rather than later, his career my be over.

Although Wright is signed through 2020 and has $67 million left on his contract after this season, it’s become clear that keeping Wright on the field is proving to be nearly impossible. It’s a credit to Wright that he’s even still playing given that he has spinal stenosis, but hours of pregame preparation and multiple off days per week make it a serious chore for him to play. Even with the extreme caution that the Mets and Wright operate with, his back continues to flare up on random days, which puts the team at a disadvantage. Now a herniated disc in his neck will likely sideline him for a significant portion of time.

What makes this all so tough is that even with these injuries and everything that comes with them, Wright has been productive. His play in the field aside, Wright has a .801 OPS over the last two seasons, and he seemed to heat up towards the end of May. The problem is that he has played only 75 of a possible 212 games during that span. That number of missed games seems only likely to grow with a DL stint looming because of the neck.

When recently asked by a fan if Wright would finish out his contract, ESPN New York reporter Adam Rubin said he probably would not.

Wright is only 33 years old, and there’s no doubt that he desires to keep playing. That’s why he signed a contract through 2020. But every indication from Wright during his Mets career is that he’s a stand up guy. And while this is only speculation, it seems that he would not prolong his MLB career to solely collect a paycheck. His good friend Michael Cuddyer walked away from $12.5 million in 2016 because he did not feel he could stay healthy, and that’s fresh in Wright’s memory.

The last two seasons appear to have been extremely frustrating for Wright. He’s seen the franchise turn the corner, but most of that transformation has come with Wright on the bench or away from the team. He’s put hours and hours of preparation into each game, and still, he cannot stay on the field. Meanwhile, he has to recognize how his situation is often putting the Mets at a disadvantage on their bench. And Wright knows how much it would help the franchise to free up his contract in a time where the Mets need to extend their young pitchers and possibly re-sign Yoenis Cespedes.

When the spinal stenosis was discovered reports were that Wright got a pretty bleak diagnosis, but that didn’t deter him. He was committed to giving it a shot, and he has done so admirably. In 2015, he won a division title and made the World Series in his return. Wright knew a full season would be tougher, so he and the Mets put a plan in place to try to keep him healthy in 2016. However, that plan does not seem to be working. No matter how much he wants to play, his body appears to be breaking down.

If the neck injury or any other injury on the horizon forces Wright to miss a significant portion of 2016, it would seem likely that he will start thinking about his future. He’ll need to ask himself, how long can I continue to put this much work in to only play a portion of the season, and how will playing affect the rest of my life? These will no doubt be tough questions to answer for Wright, who knows he has a chance to win a ring with this young Mets core. More conversations likely loom with Don Mattingly, who was in a near identical situation with the Yankees two decades ago. There can also be conversations with the Mets about a potential buyout for his contract and a role within the organization if he does retire.

The only thing certain is that Wright is at a crossroads, and it seems to be a growing possibility that his final game is on the horizon, maybe even this season. It might seem quick, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise given all that has transpired the last two seasons. One day Wright will decide his body cannot handle baseball anymore, and that will be it. There will likely be no farewell tour, and there might not be much warning. So enjoy Wright while you still can. He deserves the fans’ appreciation as any Mets player in franchise history, and he’s at a point in his career where any game might be his last.

The post Featured Article: The End May Be Near for David Wright appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mets third baseman David Wright is in the lineup and batting third tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’ll go up against three-time Cy Young award winner, left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

Wright, 33, has been dealing with some right shoulder soreness and it was questionable whether he would play today.

Looks like the day off yesterday must have provided some relief.

Original Report

Third baseman David Wright is currently dealing with right shoulder soreness, Terry Collins told reporters before Wednesday’s game.

The soreness may be due to Wright’s increasing side arm throws which he uses to compensate for his back pain.

Wright’s defensive ability has dipped this season due to his spinal stenosis. He has three errors so far this season, all of them throwing errors.

He is out of the lineup today due to a scheduled day off. There is no indication so far whether he will be out Thursday as well.

The Mets Captain is hitting .240 but has a gaudy .392 OBP and .438 SLG. He’s connected on four home runs, seven doubles, and eight RBIs in 96 at-bats this season.

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This is now David Wright‘s first full season since he learned about his spinal stenosis. So far, Wright has only played 52 games thus far. As many people will tell you, 52 games is too short a sample size to draw any definitive conclusions. Choosing a subset of that information is an even smaller sample size. However, with that said, there does seem to be a pattern developing with David Wright.

He’s not handling airplane travel well.

Since Wright came off the DL, he’s had 13 trips that required airplane travel (regular season only). In those games, he’s had 63 plate appearances, and he’s hitting .185/.301/.389 with nine walks, five doubles, two homeruns, and 17 strikeouts. That’s a far cry from the .266/.382/.443 batting line he has had since his return. Extrapolating further, if you remove those games on travel dates, Wright is hitting .295/.410/.456.

Airplane travel has been known to exacerbate back injuries, especially lower back injuries. People can stiffen up and feel discomfort. While it is recommended that a person get up and move around on a flight to help lessen these issues, it’s difficult to do that after a nine inning game and your team is scheduled for an overnight flight. Aside from these issues, we don’t know what effects the travel has on Wright’s grueling training regiment.

It’s still a short sample size, but there is a correlation between flights and back discomfort. There’s also a correlation between the flights and Wright’s sluggish play. It’s something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

The post Wright Isn’t Handling Airplane Travel Well appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Since David Wright has put on a uniform, he has been a great player. He has become the face of the franchise, if not all of baseball. We’ve seen him overcome all obstacles. He overcame the original inane Citi Field outfield configuration. He overcame a broken back. He’s overcome bad players and managers. Through all of it Wright has produced like a borderline Hall of Famer.

Wright has been facing his toughest test with his battle with spinal stenosis. So far, he’s handled that the same way he’s always faced adversity.

When Wright first came off the DL, he homered in his first at bat. He would hit .277/.381/.437 with four homers and 13 RBI in 30 games. He would then hit the first ever World Series home run in Citi Field history:

Despite all of what Wright has overcome, and despite what he has done while playing with the spinal stenosis, he still has his doubters. After an admittedly rough Opening Day, writers like Buster Olney were beginning to write the postmortem for Wright’s career. Articles like these were as premature as they were wrong.

So far this year, the Mets third baseman has reached base in each and every game he has played. He’s shown a good eye at the plate drawing a walk in all but two games. By the way, in the two games he didn’t draw a walk, he had multiple hit games. So far this year, he’s hitting .289/.426/.526. His career line is .298/.377/.493. Last night, we also got to see him hitting the ball to the opposite field with authority, which has always been a David Wright staple:

Everything was all Wright in Philadelphia last night. #DavidWright #Metshttps://t.co/irfWSwJMBv

— New York Mets (@Mets) April 19, 2016

As Terry Collins would tell you, he’s not in the least surprised. Furthermore, he believes that no one should be surprised at what David Wright is doing. As Collins said in the postgame press conference, “Star players should never surprise you with what they can do.”

Yes, David Wright is still a star, and no, no one should be surprised at what we’re seeing. Wright has been doing this his entire career, and he will continue to do so.

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