Just Mets

David Wright has not played in a game since April 14, and really had not even thought about playing in a game since the early part of May after he learned he had a long road back from spinal stenosis.

But nearly four months after playing in his last game and an arduous workout under the Florida sun at Tradition Field on Thursday, Wright finally feels good and can sense his return is drawing closer.

Wright was in his third of five consecutive days in which he was required to do extensive baseball activities without any setbacks before being cleared to begin a rehab assignment, which is targeted for Monday with the St. Lucie Mets.

“That’s three days in a row now, I’m feeling good,’’ Wright told Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. “It’s quite a change. I knew it was going to be a long, slow process, but knock on wood, the way I felt a couple of months ago, it’s quite a drastic improvement.’’

A couple of months ago, Wright was seen in San Diego leaned over a chair while he stood and talked with reporters. Signs were pointing upward in Los Angeles in early July, as he was moving, standing and walking better, but there was still no realistic timetables for his return.

But in late July, Wright started to feel like he could finally aim for a return in 2015. He left his temporary residence in Los Angeles and came to New York to work with team doctors and trainers under the supervision of Terry Collins and the front office. He was hitting, running and taking ground balls during their entire homestand at Citi Field, and that continued as the team headed to Miami during their most recent three-game series with the Marlins.

There’s still no certain timetable for Wright to return. As he’s said all along, when he’s ready, he’s ready, as long as there are no setbacks during his rehab assignment.

“Once I get past that feeling of being overmatched and start doing the things I know I am capable of, that’s when I know I am ready,” Wright said. “I’m expecting a modified, shorter version. Once I feel dangerous at the plate, I’ll be good to go.”

Wright knows this isn’t the end for him with the condition he has. In fact, it could very well be the beginning of what could be a long and uncertain road at this stage of his career, and life for that matter.

“It’s not an injury, it’s a condition,’’ Wright explained. “It’s something I am going have to manage. With that being said, some days you wake up and you are going to feel good, and there are some days you wake up and you feel OK and with therapy and the stretching I do, I can get the needle moving more towards good. And some days, the doctor told me, it’s just going to be bad.’’

Wright has adjusted his entire workout routine, his entire preparation routine, and even his batting stance, all in an effort to alleviate the stress on the area of his back affected by the spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal cavity often caused by an injury but can very well be genetic, or a combination of the two.

Surgery could be considered at some point for Wright, but he has said many times doctors feel like this is manageable without surgery, and he is not at the life stage when it’s recommended.

There could be times Wright doesn’t play because of the condition. Presumably, there could be times he needs to go on the disabled list for the condition. For now, the Mets are well armed at third base and on the roster in general for his absence.

But the Mets are going to have to accept this as a new reality for their star third baseman, and ensure they always have the continued depth to manage their end of this condition with Wright.

That means their roster focus always needs to include quality and versatile depth on the infield.

That might not have been a bad idea all along.