David Wright is set to return to the Mets’ lineup on Monday when they visit the Phillies at 7:05PM ET. Collins previously told reporters that the veteran would not be playing every day following his activation from the disabled list, which now makes general manager Sandy Alderson’s acquisition of Juan Uribe even more important. Wright had only begun conducting baseball activity in late July due to the severity of his spinal stenosis condition. Since embarking on a rehab assignment on August 10, he’s batting.321/.424/.321 with five walks and six strikeouts in 33 plate appearances with High-A St. Lucie. The hard-throwing righthander has allowed only five earned runs and 20 hits over 27 innings against them.
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Wright joins the Mets (67-56) after their three-game sweep in Colorado that pushed their division lead to five games over Washington.
For the first time since April 14, New York Mets captain David Wright will play in a major league game on Monday.
Collins says, “He won’t be the everyday guy until we know his back is 100 percent and that might not be until next spring”. “There’s a different atmosphere”. But the surroundings are a little bit different now than they were in the middle of April.
Wright, 32, originally found himself sidelined with a right hamstring strain only eight games into the season, but a spinal stenosis diagnosis has been the main reason he’s been out for the past four months. He fielded his position well and ran the bases flawlessly. With the recent injury to Lucas Duda, the three or four spots may be opened up for Wright.
“The reports are great, but it’s the Florida State League”, Collins said.
“I think the players are looking forward to it”, Mackanin said. We’ve got to be ready to hit. “For him to be able to, whatever the results and what the outcome is going to be, for him to be able to play in these games is going to be big for him”.
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Expect Wright to play four days a week, though that could change when the Mets play in American League parks and the designated hitter is in effect.
