Mets homeowners Steve and Alex Cohen launched a press release congratulating the crew’s most up-to-date captain.
“David Wright personified class on and off the field. David is the definition of a Met,” the homeowners stated. “He grew up going to Mets Triple-A games in his hometown of Norfolk, Va., and was drafted by the organization in 2001. His spectacular career included seven All-Star appearances, two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards before he played an emotional final game in 2018.
“For a generation of Mets fans, he was their Tom Seaver, so it is a fitting tribute that only David and Tom have gone into the Mets Hall of Fame and had their number retired on the same day.”
No. 11 will grow to be the eighth quantity taken out of circulation. Wright joins former Mets greats Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, in addition to late managers Gil Hodges and Casey Stengel, and Jackie Robinson, whose No. 42 is retired from all of Main League Baseball.
“Excited, humbled, honored are just some of the words to describe the thought of this summer’s Mets Hall of Fame induction and seeing No. 5 up at Citi Field next to some of the best players to ever play the game,” Wright stated in a press release thanking the Cohens and the followers.
The previous third baseman grew to become one of the prolific homegrown hitters in membership historical past after being drafted by the Mets No. 38 total in 2001 out of Hickory Excessive College in Virginia. He nonetheless leads the franchise in hits (1,777), RBI (970), runs (949), doubles (390), extra-base hits (658) and walks (762), he’s second in video games performed (1,585) and residential runs (242), third in batting common (.296) and fourth in stolen bases (196) and on-base share (.376).
The fourth participant ever to be named a captain for the Mets, Wright was an influential determine within the clubhouse all through his 14-year profession. His profession was lower quick resulting from spinal stenosis, a degenerative again situation that restricted him to solely 77 video games over his remaining three seasons (2015-2018).
Wright was compelled into retirement on the age of 35, saying goodbye to the one crew he had ever recognized in an emotional ceremony at Citi Discipline on September 29, 2018. Whereas Wright admitted that he wasn’t able to cease enjoying, his physique stated in any other case.
Questions on his legacy adopted with many questioning what he may have achieved had he not suffered from again and neck accidents. However he had little left to show after serving to the Mets win a pennant in 2015 and placing collectively a physique of labor worthy of Corridor of Fame votes.
Since retiring, Wright has remained with the group as an envoy, touring to New York and Florida from his residence in Los Angeles a number of occasions a 12 months to satisfy numerous duties. Wright helps mentor prospects, aids in sponsorship occasions and even hosts the Battle of the Badges, the Mets’ annual charity sport between members of the NYPD and NYFD.
“I can’t quite put into words the appreciation I have for the city of New York and Mets fans,” Wright stated. “For 15 years I felt like I had 40,000 friends and family members in the stands each night. It was an honor of a lifetime taking the field as your captain and I truly feel like this honor is just as much yours as it is mine.”
