Sandy Alderson told reporters at Citi Field that David Wright will remain in Los Angeles for several more weeks while receiving treatment on his back for spinal stenosis. (Adam Rubin, ESPN)
There is still no timetable for Wright to return and last week Alderson said something ominous about that, “We’re not on the edge of our seats waiting for David to come back at this point.”
Wright has been out since initially injuring his right hamstring on April 14. It was while he was rehabbing from that injury, that he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.
Update, June 9
According to ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin, David Wright made no significant progress towards returning this week.
Dr. Robert Watkins, a specialist who has been treating Wright’s back, was away, so he and Wright did not have their customary meeting.
Within the next few weeks, the Mets will start receiving insurance money from Wright’s contract, which allows them to recoup 75 percent of his salary if he is out for an extended period of time. However, a team official told Rubin that the Mets would much rather have him back on the field than get the salary relief.
Original Post, June 3
David Wright met with reporters at Petco Park and updated them on his how his therapy to treat his spinal stenosis is going.
Doctors told Wright that he is too young to have surgery on his back, and that for now he’s taking it week by week with no easy answers. “It sucks.”
“We’re not just talking about playing baseball. We’re talking about walking and standing and being pain-free.”
Wright, who has been out since April 14, said there is still no timetable for his return, but remains hopeful he will play again this season.
“There’s never been a question in my mind that not only am I going to come back, but I’m going to sooner rather than later.”
“I know this is not an ideal situation. It’s a matter of being pain free and symptom free. If I try to comeback before I’m physically ready to, the chances for surgery could increase dramatically.”
Wright’s pain level is still not at a point where doctors will clear him to begin baseball activities despite the series of epidural injections that were supposed to provide some relief.
Sandy Alderson offered the following after Wright spoke:
“I’m not sure we can have any assurance at this point that when he comes back it’ll be incident free for the rest of the year.”
For now, manager Terry Collins is sticking with Ruben Tejada as his everyday third baseman.
(Updated 6/3)
