MLB

Mets great Franco huge Wright fan

PORT ST. LUCIE — One Mets captain has welcomed another to the club.

John Franco wasted no time calling David Wright on Thursday, congratulating the Mets third baseman on his elevation to team captain. Franco, who played with Wright in 2004, was the last Mets player to hold the title.

But Franco, the franchise’s all-time saves leader, said he could have told you from the beginning Wright had a chance to be his successor.

“You just saw the way David gravitated toward Joe McEwing, who had a great work ethic, and Joe kind of took him under his wing,” Franco told The Post yesterday. “And you would just see the way David would handle himself around the clubhouse and he knew exactly where he belonged.

“He knew what to do and what not to do and he just always had a smile on his face, and to this day he still does have a smile on his face.”

Wright, Franco, Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter are the only Mets players to have been named captain. But Wright is the first homegrown player in team history to receive the honor.

That distinction wasn’t lost on Franco, who pitched for the Reds before coming to the Mets. He finished his career with the Astros in 2005.

“The three previous captains, we came from other organizations,” said Franco, who held the title from 2001-04. “David has grown with this organization, so he’s been here a long time and is deserving.”

If Wright learned anything during his season with Franco, it was the importance of making everybody in the clubhouse feel comfortable. Franco was a master, according to Wright, of making even the newest players feel accepted.

“I was 21 years old and it was obviously intimidating walking into a clubhouse, especially a clubhouse full of those types of players early on,” Wright said.

“And I think the thing that stuck out the most was how comfortable [Franco] made me feel, whether it was just coming over and talking to me for a few minutes or giving me a hard time, but he made me feel like I was one of the guys.”

Franco, who has remained friends with Wright over the years, said there was never much doubt in his mind the organization and player would stay together long term. Wright, 30, signed an eight-year contract extension in December worth $138 million that all but guarantees he will conclude his career with the Mets.

“I believed that David was going nowhere,” Franco said. “You have to do what you have to do to take care of yourself, but I don’t think ownership would have let him go. I think they did a great job in bringing him back and can build a team around him. He’s still young where they can fill in the pieces around him.”

Wright said he considers it a blessing Hernandez, a team broadcaster, is a friend and also had many conversations with Carter before the Hall of Fame catcher succumbed to brain cancer last year.

“I’ve been fortunate, I’ve gotten to know all the previous captains,” Wright said. “It’s not too often you get to be as close to those types of guys as I’ve been and able to take a little bit from each one.”

Franco said he is proud to pass the baton to Wright.

“He is the face of the organization,” Franco said. “So a lot of people who come here, they know David Wright is the leader of this ball club.”

METS TRAINING DAY

STILL PERFECT

LaTroy Hawkins pitched two-thirds of a scoreless inning in the Mets’ 4-2 exhibition victory over the Marlins to keep his ERA at zero in six Grapefruit League appearances.

NOT SO NIESE

A day after he was named the Mets’ Opening Day starter, Jon Niese struggled, allowing two earned runs on four hits and four walks over five innings.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

Rookie Rafael Montero, on loan from minor league camp, will pitch against the Nationals in Port St. Lucie.

CAUGHT MY EYE

Anthony Recker, almost a lock to begin the season as the Mets’ backup catcher, quietly has had an impressive spring at the plate. In 23 at-bats, Recker is batting .391 with a homer and four RBIs.