The Mets may be without their captain until 2014.
New York Mets manager Terry Collins said Sunday that there's a possibility that third baseman and face of the franchise David Wright, who hasn't played since Aug. 2, may not return this season.
"No question," Collins said when asked if Wright might not return from a strained right hamstring according to CBS Sports. "There's nothing etched in stone. We're hoping certainly that it's four weeks. If it's five, it's five. If it's six, it's six. If he gets back, tremendous. That means the healing process and all the rehab stuff will work. But there is absolutely no timetable at all."
Wright played with a sore hamstring in that Aug. 2 game against the Kansas City Royals, a game which the Mets won in 11 innings on a walk-off homerun by Eric Young Jr., but the third baseman re-aggravated the injury when he beat out an infield single in the 10th inning during a 2-2 tie. Wright came up limping and then left the game.
He hasn't played in one since. And he may not until 2014.
Wright was diagnosed with a hamstring strain following the game.
Wright, 30, who started at third base for the National League All-Star team at Citi Field in July, was in the midst of a great year, hitting 309/.391/.512 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs. The Mets captain, playing in his first season on his new eight-year $138 million contract extension he signed this past offseason, also had 23 doubles and 17 steals in 20 attempts before the injury struck.
The Mets really have no reason to rush Wright back into the lineup until he's 100 percent healthy. The Mets are 54-61, only good enough to leave them 16.5 games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves (72-46) and 10 games out of the second wildcard spot currently held by the Cincinnati Reds (66-52).
The Mets may be without Wright for remaining 47 games on the schedule, but it would be smart for the team not to rush him back if he's not ready due to his long term commitment to the franchise and their current place in the standings.
Wright's two-run homer in the first inning of the game he eventually got injured in tied Mike Piazza for second place on the Mets all-time homeruns list with 220 long-balls. Wright sits just 32 homers shy of Daryl Strawberry's franchise mark of 252, a feat that Wright will more than likely eclipse by the time his eight-year deal is up.
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