David Wright to rehab at Las Vegas, but return to majors far from a sure bet
David Wright hasn't played more that 2 games in a row since his latesh rehab assignment started. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
CHICAGO — David Wright is one level and a world away from a return to the major leagues.
The Mets transferred Wright’s minor-league rehab assignment to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, but assistant general manager John Ricco cast doubt regarding whether Wright will return to the majors this season after more than two years away.
“It’s unrealistic to think he’d be activated any time soon,” Ricco said.
Wright moved from High-A St. Lucie to Las Vegas because that is what the “fairly aggressive” schedule agreed upon weeks ago prescribed for him, Ricco said, but Wright has failed to reach several benchmarks pertaining to “pretty much everything” with his rehab.
In 10 games with St. Lucie, Wright hit .188 (6-for-32) with a .235 OBP and .219 slugging percentage. He had six strikeouts, two walks and one extra-base hit (a double). He played a full nine innings at third base only once. He has not played more than two games in a row.
“We just haven’t seen that level of being able to play on a quantity or quality basis at this point,” Ricco said.
Wright is running out of time. His 20-day rehab window ends Friday, and the minor-league season ends Monday. Major-league rosters expand Saturday, though that checkpoint is a moot point at this stage of Wright’s comeback attempt.
Absent games, it’s not clear how Wright would continue to progress to the point of potential activation from the disabled list. Ricco said the Mets could have Wright return to Port St. Lucie and work with the organization’s medical/training staff there, or he could travel with the Mets — while remaining on the DL — and rehab with the major-league staff.
“We knew this was going to be a possibility,” Ricco said. “We’re just going to have to continue to be creative in terms of creating opportunity for him to continue to develop.
“We tried to put in place a program that he could come back and show us that he’s ready to be a major-league player, and so far he just hasn’t reached that, whether it’s in terms of playing time or playing skill. It’s all of the above at this point.”
Wright hasn’t played for the Mets since May 27, 2016, enduring neck, shoulder and back surgeries since. Although the Mets recoup a reported 75 percent of his $20 million through an insurance policy, it’s not clear how much a return to the majors — however brief — might cost them.
