The Curse of the WBC has struck down Mets superstar third baseman. David Wright is out with an injury to his ribs and this could turn into the dreaded oblique injury.
Wright insisted he would be ready for Opening Day with the Mets, but strange things happen.
The Team USA slugger was scratched from last week’s showdown with the Dominican Republic at Marlins Park because of sore left ribs and was headed back to Port St. Lucie to be checked out by Mets’ doctors. He said he has quietly been dealing with the injury for about a week. Wright wanted to play in the game and even had his spikes on but was pulled from the lineup at the last minute after the Mets and Team USA officials consulted. Wright said he originally injured his ribs about a week ago before games started in Arizona, just about the same time as Mark Teixeira went down with a wrist injury that has shelved the Yankee slugger for eight to 10 weeks.
“For about a week now I’ve had some discomfort in my rib area,’’ Wright said in a hallway outside Team USA’s clubhouse. He was dressed in full uniform and had his spikes on ready to play. Between USA Baseball and the Mets, the team decided they wanted him out of the lineup.’’ Wright insisted he could have played. He is hitting .438 in the WBC with 10 RBI. “I don’t feel (pain) much when I play,’’ he said. “It’s more just lounging around or I’ve been having a hard time sleeping because you get caught in a certain position and it wakes you up in the middle of the night,’’ he said. “It’s more so when I’m not doing anything, when I’m sitting around, it barks and bothers me.”But then,’’ Wright added, “once I get it heated up and get going, I feel pretty good, and like I said, I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize — I owe it to the Mets to listen to them and to be ready for Opening Day and that is extremely important to me and that’s something obviously I don’t want to jeopardize.” Wright also insisted he wants to play in future WBCs. He does not know if he will be able to return to this tournament, which, ends up in San Francisco on the 19th.
The Mets are looking bounce back from yet another late collapse last season. Just 2 weeks into spring training, they have several key injuries and only 8 wins so far. This past offseason, the Mets signed Wright to a multiyear contract, the richest in team history. Everyone in the organization in hoping to see Wright at third base come opening day, but at the same time realize his health is the team’s number one priority.
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