Just Mets

David Wright played in a baseball game on Monday, and he came through the experience without any apparent problems.

That’s a big, first step for the new David Wright, who will endeavor to continue his career with an irreversible condition in his lumbar spine.

But, he knows its only the first step in what must be a smooth ride during his rehab assignment if he’s going to make it back to the Mets in 2015.

“If I’m not feeling comfortable at the plate or I’m not playing the way I’m capable of playing, than there’s no sense in me going up there and not feeling like I can produce like I’m capable of producing,” Wright told Kevin Kernan of the New York Post.

He served as the designated hitter for Single-A St. Lucie during the Mets 8-4 loss to the Fort Myers Miracle at Tradition Field on Monday evening, going 1-for-3 with a walk, single and a run scored.

“Any time you haven’t played in a game in a few months, it takes a little bit to get it back, get your legs under you,” Wright said, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. “But I thought today was, all in all, a good day.”

But because there’s so much uncertainty going forward for Wright, he is curious about how he is going to feel and respond on a day-to-day basis.

“You can only do so much rehab to get you ready for this point. All bets are off when you get out in the field. Even running the bases – diving around, sliding around. So it will be a good test [on Tuesday] at third. I’m going to try to play within myself and not go crazy, but it’s easier said than done when you’re out there in a game situation.

“I’m curious to see how I feel tomorrow. I’m curious to see how I play the field. I’m curious to see just moving around, where things are a little less controlled,” the third baseman said.

As he said, Wright is expected to play third base on Tuesday night against Fort Myers. His schedule will be determined as dictated by how feel feels going forward. Terry Collins suggested on Sunday he will get days off during his rehab assignment and could get up to 30 at-bats before being considered for activation from the disabled list.

How Wright feels could have everything to do with his new pre-game routine to prepare for a game. He told reporters on Monday in Port St. Lucie he works with a physical therapy team for 90 minutes before game time just to be ready to play.

That routine could very well affect his stamina and therefore determine his availability on a day-to-day basis.

“When I was 21, it was just roll out of bed and do a couple of twists and turns and ready to go,” Wright said. “I think gradually I’ve tried to warm up properly. But now, it’s a whole different beast going through the program that the doctors and therapists have set forth for me. It’s a longer day. No question.”

Assuming all goes well and there are no setbacks, it seems entirely possible Wright could be activated sometime next week, perhaps in their series against the Orioles in Baltimore or their series against their series against the Rockies in Denver.

But Wright knows while he is pleased with the beginning of his journey, he is not out of the woods by a long shot. There’s a long road ahead of him if he is to survive the grind of being a big leaguer playing with spinal stenosis.

None the less, given where he was just two months ago when he was forced to lean over a chair while speaking with reporters in San Diego, he has everything to be proud of with what he has accomplished in a relatively short span of time.

“To actually come out here and participate in a game from where I felt a couple of months ago is solid. I feel good about that. I take pride in putting that work in to get to this point, because a couple of months ago, I was hurting pretty badly.”

For now the star third baseman who has pledged his loyalty to this organization is pain free, desperately trying to get back to the Mets to be a part of something he has only been able to dream of for the last nine years (and his whole life for that matter).

If he can successfully navigate this condition and reach the pinnacle with the team he’s adored since he was a child, what a story it would be.

He concluded on Monday, “Obviously, there’s no guarantees, but I’ve done everything I can to prepare myself for this point.”