David Wright feels he's close to a return
Injured David Wright of the New York Mets has a laugh in the dugout before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The clock on the wall over David Wright's shoulder was a few minutes shy of the 4 p.m. trade deadline.
News of the Mets' trade for Yoenis Cespedes broke and a member of the media notified Wright. He opted not to comment. "We've been through this before," he said, drawing laughs.
But this trade, unlike the Carlos Gomez deal, became official. Now that the Mets have added Cespedes to the lineup, the question is this: When will Wright join him?
Inside an empty Citi Field, long before the start of Friday night's game, Wright was fielding grounders at third base and throwing to first. Wright, who was placed on the disabled list April 15 with a pulled hamstring and later was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, also has been taking batting practice indoors and running and cutting in the outfield.
"It's in incremental steps every day where not only are you doing the baseball things a number of days in a row, but you're also upping the reps each day, so there is a little more on my plate every day," he said. "It's just a matter of making sure my body can respond to those baseball things on a daily basis."
Wright has a return date in mind but wouldn't announce it because he said his approach probably is more aggressive than the medical staff's. Wright likely will be in Florida on Monday, either with the Mets in Miami or in Port St. Lucie for a rehab assignment.
"I feel like I'm able to go out there and do the things that I'm capable of doing on the baseball field," he said.
As for those moves the Mets made, Wright gave credit to general manager Sandy Alderson.
"He said that we're trying to win now," Wright said. "And when you make moves, it backs that up."
