It’s been a long, harsh fight for David Wright to get back to the big leagues but even with his latest setback he’s not yet ready to call it quits.
The 34-year-old shut down his rehab assignment Monday after experiencing discomfort in his shoulder, presumably ending any hopes of returning to the majors this season.
“After playing in a few games, I continued to have shoulder pain,” Wright said in a statement. “So I decided to go to the doctor and get it checked out. Will make any decisions going forward after my appointment.”
Wright, who is signed through the 2020 season, is not yet considering retirement a source told Mike Puma of the New York Post.
He is scheduled to be examined in New York later this week, after which he will decide what his next move is.
“I will be behind him, because he is still young and you have to be very strong in your mind to continue to have a lot of setbacks and be still hungry to come back,” Jose Reyes said prior to Tuesday’s game. “As a baseball player you appreciate that, coming from D. Wright.”
With three years and $47 million left on his contract, Wright will do whatever he can to get back on the field. While most of the contract is covered by insurance, it won’t be a huge hit to the front office’s pockets, but Wright has to decide what level he can really perform at in this point of time.
“I sensed the disappointment last week when I talked to him about his shoulder, how it was bothering him,” Collins said. “He’s real frustrated in that he did everything that everybody had wanted as far as the rehab and all the exercises and everything else and wasn’t bouncing back.”
While the Mets have been gun shy to ink another third baseman to replace Wright everyday, the team has to consider it this offseason whether Wright chooses to be in Spring Training with the team or not.
We will find out the prognosis on the captain later this week, but unless he gets awful news from the doctor, Wright will almost certainly try to mount another comeback.
