With just three weeks left in the season, time is growing short for David Wright’s comeback bid. But the Mets’ hamstrung star — who flew back to New York from Florida on Monday afternoon — insisted he’ll beat the clock and return to the field before the 2013 campaign ends.
“I don’t think the clock is going to run out. I think I’ll be back at least for a larger chunk of the remainder of the games,’’ Wright said before the Mets opened an 11-game homestand Monday night against the Nationals. “That’s kind of the goal, and I haven’t really even thought about not playing [this season]. That hasn’t really crossed my mind.’’
Wright has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3 with a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring. The third baseman flew from Port St. Lucie to New York where he plans to continue his rehabilitation and pursue his goal of returning to the lineup. And manager Terry Collins, for one, isn’t betting against him.
“David Wright’s a pro, and he knows that we need him, and the one thing about him is he loves to play,’’ Collins said. “That’s why when he shows up every day, he’s in the lineup, because to get him out of the lineup is not that easy.’’
Wright acknowledged the rehab has not taken longer than he would like, but not necessarily longer than he expected.
“They originally told me six weeks and I’m at five weeks now, so I think I’m pretty close to that timeline,’’ Wright said. “It’s been frustrating, but every time I’ve gotten hurt, I’ve always wanted to rush back. But originally they told me it was a six-week injury, two weeks in they told me it was a six-week injury. Nothing’s changed.’’
With Wright having played through a tight hamstring and then straining it within a week, caution appears the wise approach. And after going to Florida on Aug. 29, he has returned because all activity at the Port St. Lucie complex has been shut down.
“I’m back here because there was nothing else for me to do in Florida,” said Wright, who has done just about every baseball activity except run the bases. “There’s nobody really down there, and they’re a little short-staffed. Hopefully I can stand in on some bullpens and continue the running program, and be back sooner.
“I’m doing everything else — I’m doing fielding, throwing, hitting. I’m doing all that stuff. I’m working on doing some cuts, running at different angles to simulate running the bases. I assume bases will be one of the next hurdles … but running and everything feels good so far.’’
Whenever Wright is finally fit to play, he’ll almost certainly have to do it in a major league game without the benefit of a rehab assignment. Low-A Savannah, the only Mets affiliate still playing, starts its playoffs but the series is slated to go no further than this weekend. Even the optimistic Wright was highly doubtful he’d be ready to play by then.
“I think that’d be optimistic. I’m not sure if that’s possible,’’ said Wright, who also expressed reservations about being a distraction to a team trying to win a title. “Plus, they’ve worked really hard to get to this point. I remember what it was like in the minor leagues. They want to try to win their championship, not have some guy rehabbing.’’
Either way, whenever Wright is ready, Collins said the Mets will find a way to make it work.
“One thing I do know is he’s on schedule to continue to rehab, running progression,’’ Collins said. “When we get to the stage where that’s playable, we’ll make sure he gets some live batting practice he needs before he gets back in the lineup.’’