David Wright
From The Met Wiki
| Age: 26 (born December 20, 1982) |
| Position: Third Base |
| Bats: Right Throws: Right |
| Number: 5 |
| Acquired: 2001 amateur draft |
| Contract: 6 year, $54 million |
The Mets got David Wright in the 2001 amateur draft, before picking Wright the Mets drafted Aaron Heilman.
Wright spent three years in the minors with the St. Lucie Mets in 2003 and the Binghamton Mets and Norfolk Tides in 2004 before rising to the majors in the same year.
Before his 26th birthday (in December '08) David Wright had racked up 4 1/2 seasons with an OPS of 922, 2 Gold Gloves, and 92 stolen bases (caught just 22 times).
Wright (as would be later said about Daniel Murphy) was a remarkably mature hitter upon arriving to the Mets, taking pitches, and hitting to all fields.
Personal Recollection: The best Met game I was at included David Wright homering in his first two at bats, and then making an error in the top of the seventh that led to the Braves taking the lead. I was quite certain that this kid (then in his first full season) would be swinging for the fences on any pitch to try to make up for his error with over-aggressiveness. I was wrong. Wright walked on five pitches, and came around to score the tying run. In the eighth inning the Braves tried a suicide squeeze that popped too far in the air. Wright charged and made a fantastic diving catch, and then jogged back to the third to complete the unassisted double play. Mets later won on a Piazza three run homer. But my favorite Wright moment wasn't his two homers, nor his diving double play. It was the plate appearance where I was expecting rookie over-aggressiveness and instead found a disciplined young player who complemented his enormous talent with impressive self control. Like all Met fans my age, whenever I hear people talking about the Mets' can't miss young stars (Wright and Reyes) I cringe as I flash back to how much I loved Gooden and Strawberry. But I still hope to one day see Wright and Reyes in Cooperstown, with their Mets hats and World Series rings.
My most prominent personal recollection of David Wright was in September of 2007, when he finally hit his 30th home run of the season and became a member of the 30/30 club. The Mets were losing, badly and in an ugly fashion, 6 errors by Mets fielders, David Wright was probably the only infielder that did not make an error. After striking out in a key at bat with the bases loaded the day earlier, Wright must have felt the pressure to try to get something started for his team the next day. With the Mets losing 10-5, Wright hit his 30th home run and the stadium was practically silent, that was a cause for celebration, but because it did not occur at a game turning point, it seemed his home run meant nothing. I sincerely hoped that his home run would spark some kind of rally, but that is how the game ended 10-6. It was just another example of how bad things were going in September of 2007.
In 2008 Wright had a career best 33 Home Runs and 124 RBI. That did not help the Mets keep there heads above water as they fell short of the playoffs by one game.
2009 Was a season most Mets fans would rather forget, and David Wright's career worst. He only had 10 Home Runs and 72 RBI.
On August 15 the Mets got a big scare when Giants pitcher Matt Cain hit David Wright on the head with a 94 MPH fastball. Wright could not get up for about 5 minuets and the trainers took a long look at him before he got up. Wright was Hospitalized and kept at the hospital that night and was put on the 15 day DL joining stars Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Billy Wagner, John Maine, J.J Putz, Jose Reyes and Oliver Perez
[edit] The David Wright Foundation
David Wright is the Mets' team captain, but he also has his own foundation, the David Wright Foundation. The foundation was established in 2005 and works toward improving the health, education, and emotional development of children in need.
