Mets David Wright Gets First Spring Training Start
JUPITER, FL (WFAN/AP) - David Wright will get his first spring training start today when the Mets travel to Jupiter to take on the Cardinals, reports WFAN's Ed Coleman. Wright was expected to be in the starting lineup on Tuesday when the Mets have the first of three straight home games, but felt good enough after taking batting practice on Sunday against two minor league pitchers to bump it up a day.
Wright will bat third following Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy. There are 3 regulars not in the lineup - Jason Bay, who was hit in the forearm with a pitch in Sunday's game against the Nationals and still has some soreness, Andres Torres, who is recuperating from a left calf strain, and Ike Davis, who was scheduled for a day off.
Johan Santana will be on the mound to face the same Cardinals team he pitched against 5 days ago. Santana threw 6 innings of one-run ball last Wednesday in Jupiter and remains on track to be the Opening Day starter for the Mets on April 5.
A five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, Wright missed two months last season because of a stress fracture in his back. He hit a career-low.254 with 14 homers and 61 RBIs in 102 games.
New York holds a $16 million option for 2013 with a $1 million buyout. If he is traded, the option is voided. Wright's contract does not include no-trade protection.
(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Do you expect Wright to play Opening Day? Leave a comment below.
