David Wright Named 4th Captain In Mets History; Jon Niese To Start Opening Day
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Captain America is now officially the captain of the Mets.
The Mets have made third baseman David Wright the fourth captain in team history.
The Mets made the announcement on Thursday, though it didn't come as much of a surprise.
"This is probably one of the proudest days of my career so far," Wright said. "(I'm) honored and very proud to be on the short list of guys that have been captain of this franchise. For me it's a dream come true, to say the least."
Wright joined Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter and John Franco as Mets to be appointed captain. Franco was the last player to hold the honor in 2004.
The 30-year-old Wright is a six-time All-Star and the team's career hits leader. He signed an eight-year, $138 million contract extension with the Mets in the offseason.
"We think it's an honor that few people get in the game," manager Terry Collins said, according to MLB.com. "Certainly it's deserving. He's not only the face of this organization, but I thought this past winter when he made the commitment that he wanted to stay a New York Met forever, that it was the right time."
Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon admitted that the decision to make Wright the captain was essentially made when the two-time Gold Glove Award winner signed his name on the dotted line this winter.
"I think the decision was made when we gave him the contract," Wilpon said. "Did we announce it then? No, we didn't announce it then. But I believe the decision was made at that point in time. When you commit that kind of money and resources that we have to a guy like this, you want to make sure he's the leader. And he's proven to be that."
Wright, like Derek Jeter will not wear a "C" on his jersey.
"Part of it, I think, is my personality, where I don't necessarily like to stick out too much," Wright said. "I think the uniform is a uniform for a reason. So I think that everybody is kind of in agreement that we're going to do without."
Hernandez fully supported the organization's decision to name the veteran the captain.
"Being named captain was a badge of honor," Hernandez said in a statement. "My life did not change that much. I just became a sounding board in certain situations. I have been around David long enough to know that he is the perfect guy to the be the captain of the Mets."
The Mets also announced that Jon Niese will start on Opening Day when New York takes on the Padres at Citi Field on April 1.
Johan Santana is expected to start the season on the disabled list.
Mets fans -- how happy are you to see Wright finally receive this honor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below...
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