David Wright was drafted by the Mets out of highschool in 2001, made his MLB debut with them in 2004 and performed the ultimate recreation of his profession sporting the identical uniform in 2018.
He’s now set to have his No. 5 retired and be inducted into the Mets Corridor of Fame on July 19 at Citi Area as a part of the one franchise he’s ever recognized.
He hopes Pete Alonso has the possibility to do one thing comparable.
Alonso, additionally a lifelong Met — for now — stays a free agent and his return to Queens is much from sure.
“I do know it’s a unique feeling while you’re drafted, developed and enjoying for the group that gave you your first alternative,’’ Wright mentioned throughout a Zoom name Wednesday. “There’s a little bit — possibly loads — extra delight while you put that jersey on. I hope he remembers that and doesn’t lose sight of that. With that being mentioned, I’ve by no means, ever faulted a participant for maximizing his incomes potential and going to attempt to make an incredible residing for him and his household. I can’t fault him for that.”
Alonso has spent a lot of his time with the Mets — like Wright — as certainly one of, if not the, face of the franchise.
Like Wright, Alonso, 30, has lived by way of some lean years with the group.
Wright opted to stick with the Mets with an eight-year, $138 million extension early within the offseason previous to 2013, a yr earlier than he was on account of hit free company.
Though Wright joked Wednesday about not being as worthy of his jersey being retired as the opposite seven he’ll be a part of, he ended up the franchise chief in video games performed, hits and doubles — and is second to Darryl Strawberry in house runs.
Alonso is sort of sure to go each Wright and Strawberry for that mark if he sticks round.
That’s removed from a certainty, as The Submit’s Joel Sherman reported Alonso turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension in the course of the 2023 season.
He’s now one of many final vital free brokers remaining available on the market.
Talking Wednesday, Wright mentioned he was pleased he solely performed for one group and that he wished extra gamers would do the identical — and that groups would allow them to.
“I want there was extra loyalty,’’ Wright mentioned of the state of the sport. “And after I say loyalty, it goes each methods. A number of the finest instances in common season video games that I beloved had been towards Philadelphia and it was due to the proximity of the cities and fan base, nevertheless it was additionally since you had Jose [Reyes] and me for years battling Chase [Utley] and Ryan [Howard] and Shane [Victorino] and Jimmy [Rollins] and Cole [Hamels]. I believe the sport might use extra of that. With that being mentioned, it’s not simply on the gamers to be loyal. It’s on the groups to be loyal.”
In Alonso’s case, there may be curiosity on each side in a reunion, however at totally different phrases.
Depend Wright amongst those that hope Alonso stays with the group that drafted him in 2016 and noticed him break the rookie house run document in 2019.
“I keep in mind what hit house big-time for me was once we had been in Atlanta in the direction of the top of Chipper [Jones’] tenure and seeing Chipper’s emotion and phrases, having spent his complete profession in Atlanta,’’ Wright mentioned. “And enjoying throughout city from Derek [Jeter], seeing how a lot it meant to him. I discovered loads from them from afar. I believe that needs to be a consideration, and hopefully shall be a consideration, to Pete when he’s on the lookout for his subsequent group or coming again to New York.”
For the 42-year-old Wright — who grew up a Mets fan in Virginia and now lives in Southern California, teaching his three youngsters in sports activities — there are not any regrets along with his resolution, though the contract didn’t work out because the Mets had hoped on account of Wright’s ensuing again and neck accidents.
“I’m glad that I did that,’’ Wright mentioned of remaining a Met. “As a result of shedding in a Mets uniform for me was devastating, however profitable in a Mets uniform for me was sweeter than anything I might probably think about, due to the trials and tribulations and having gone by way of every little thing. And being a Met for all times meant, for me, greater than form of a mercenary kind participant. However there’s nothing fallacious with that.”