David Wright

From BR Bullpen

David Allen Wright

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 0", Weight 200 lb.

Debut July 21, 2004
Born December 20, 1982 in Norfolk, VA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

2005 saw David Wright play his first complete season at the major league level after a successful and short minor league career in the New York Mets system. To say the least, it was a huge success. In 575 AB, David compiled 102 RBIs, 99 runs scored, while hitting for a .911 OPS. Add on his 17 stolen bases, and David had himself a monster first full campaign. If his season had one dark spot, it would have to be defensively. At third base, David was spectacular at times, but also inconsistent at others. While he has been an above average fielder his entire career, he seemed to take some steps backwards in 2005 to the tune of 24 errors. However, any shortcomings David may have had defensively this year were more than made up for by his bat, becoming the first Met since Mike Piazza in 2000 to hit for 100+ RBIs.

This was only a first taste of the tremendous success Wright would enjoy. In 2006, he drove in 116 runs with a .311 batting average as the Mets came within one game of reaching the World Series. He belted four hits, included two doubles, and collected 4 RBI in the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but only went 4 for 25 with a home run in the NLCS which the Mets lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2007, he overcame a slow start to bat .325 with 42 doubles and 30 home runs, while scoring and driving in over 100 runs. He finished fourth in the MVP vote and won both a Silver Slugger Award and a Gold Glove. However, the season ended on a sour note as the Mets were edged out of the postseason by the Philadelphia Philies after an epic September collapse.

David Wright had another outstanding season in 2008, batting over .300 for the fourth straight year, with a career-high 33 homers and 124 RBI. He was third in the National League with 115 runs scored, another personal best. Although his fielding was not as sparkling as in 2007, he repeated the Silver Slugger/Gold Glove double, and this time was seventh in the MVP vote, as his teammate Carlos Delgado picked up some of the votes directed to Mets players. Once again, the Mets fell just short of the postseason as the Phillies went all the way to the Championship, but Wright's place among MLB's top performers was well secure.

In 2009, Wright became the first Met to homer in the new Citi Field, driving a Walter Silva pitch beyond the fence in left-center field for a game-tying three-run shot in the 5th inning of the Mets' home opener on April 13.

At this stage in his career, David is being projected as possibly the best New York Mets positional player of all time.