While attendance hasn’t been an issue for the Las Vegas 51s, there’s nothing like the draw of a premier player. While the New York Mets have brought through several top prospects this season and other major leaguers on rehab, there’s nobody to the level of the 51’s newest addition — third baseman David Wright.
Before the year began, there was no assumption that Wright would see time in Las Vegas. The only big name player fans were counting on was Tim Tebow, who had surgery on a broken hand in July. The 2018 season saw prospects Peter Alonso and Jeff McNeil play significantly with the team in addition to established major leaguers on their own rehabs. Michael Conforto and Todd Frazier were among the pros to make a stop with the team this season.
Mike Puma of the New York Post tweeted the news early on Aug. 28 Wright would continue his physical rehab in Las Vegas.
David Wright is headed to Triple-A Las Vegas to continue his rehab.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) August 28, 2018
With only six games left in the 51s season, and the team already eliminated from playoff contention, he should get ample playing time. Wright, who was named captain for the Mets in 2013, has not played in a major league game since May 27, 2016.
He played in only 37 games that season, a slight decrease from the 38 he was able to play in in 2015. His time off the field has come from a seemingly unending series of major surgeries. His first major injury came in 2015 when he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, missing part of the season.
The next year he needed surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck. Issues from the last two years persisted in 2017 when he ultimately succumbed to a shoulder issue that required rotator cuff surgery.Before his injuries, Wright had proven himself to be one of the all-time greatest hitters in Mets history.
From 2004–2014 he was a six-time all-star with 230 home runs and 1702 career hits. He was also a two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time Gold Glove winner all before turning 32 years old. While Wright’s possible return to the Mets has fans head-over-heels excited, the team may be facing financial implications if he does step back on the field.
It was revealed in January of 2018 the team’s insurance policy on Wright allows them to recover 75 percent of his annual salary.
When asked by the New Jersey Advance Media, team COO Jeff Wilpon said, “We still pay a big portion of it, OK? When you’re talking about $20 million and we’re still paying 25 percent.”
With these comments from January looming over the team during the season, there was little hope for Wright to make it back to the majors. Even with today’s news, the team is still hedging their bets. According to Puma, co-general manager John Ricco said that it’s not likely Wright will see the field with the Mets this season.
For Las Vegas 51s and Vegas Golden Knights fans, this weekend’s final series at Cashman Field as part of the Mets organization will feature one of the best in the game both past and present to go with some pretty cool VGK/51s jerseys being given away to the first 2,500 lucky fans.
Las Vegas 51s giving away Vegas Golden Knights jerseys on Hometown Heroes Night https://t.co/w8k1jNjlHZ
— Dayna Roselli (@DaynaRoselli) August 28, 2018
