David Wright plays in back-to-back games, believes he’s back to normal
New York Mets team captain David Wright talks to reporters during a spring training workout Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — As the pop-up drifted toward the stands near third base, David Wright gave chase without hesitation. As he neared the fence, he slid, then popped up just as the ball caromed off a fan’s glove and into Wright’s shoulder.
Wright might have thought twice about that slide last season, when his spinal stenosis diagnosis was still fresh and dealing with the back condition was still new. But after playing in his second straight Grapefruit League game for the first time this month — a 2-1 loss to the Marlins — Wright painted a picture of normalcy.
“There’s nothing really out of the ordinary,” he said after going 0-for-3. “I know it took a while to get going, but we’re going now, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s a normal spring.”
The Mets took it slow with Wright, holding him out of game action until Friday, but he has played three of the last four games without issue. He played five innings at third base on Monday and expects that workload to increase.
Manager Terry Collins believes Wright could be playing seven innings by the middle of next week.
Cabrera moving forward
Asdrubal Cabrera, getting past a strained tendon in his left knee, appears to be on track to be ready for Opening Day against the Royals. The shortstop took grounders, another step forward as he increases baseball activity. The Mets intended to shut him down for two weeks, but he began baseball activities inside that time frame. Collins hopes Cabrera can serve as a DH in minor-league games by the end of the week.
Extra bases
Reliever Eric Goeddel could see his first game action on Tuesday against the Yankees in Tampa. He has been sidelined with a strained lat muscle . . . Second baseman Dilson Herrera will rejoin the Mets in Tampa after playing for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic qualifier. Herrera’s tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning Sunday night gave Colombia a 2-1 win over host Panama and qualified Colombia for the 2017 WBC.
