David Wright’s First Hit Came 15 Years Ago Today

On July 22 2004, a 21-year-old rookie named David Wright stepped up to the plate at Shea Stadium. While Wright went hitless in his first five at-bats, the Mets’ prospect couldn’t be held down for long. Wright worked a 3-1 count against Expos’ right-hander Zach Day, and then rocketed a double down the third base line for what was the first of 1777 hits of Wright’s illustrious career.

#OTD-07/22/2004: In the bottom of the fifth, David Wright doubled down the left field line off Expos righty Zach Day for his first major league hit.#Mets #LGM @Mets @MetsMerized https://t.co/gfoDrbEHgj

— Mathew Brownstein (@MBrownstein89) July 22, 2019

While Wright’s career would ultimately be cut short due to injuries, the seven-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger holds a special place in Mets’ history. Wright is the franchise’s all-time leader in hits, RBI (970), doubles (390), walks (761) and runs scored (949). He also ranks second in WAR (50.4), and second in home runs (242).

Throughout his 14-year-career, Wright would post a .296 batting average with a .867 OPS and 133 wRC+.  He would also serve as the Mets’ captain, representing the franchise in both the good times and bad. From the heartbreaking collapses of 2007 and 2008, the mediocrity of 2009-2014, and the Mets’ exhilarating run in 2015, Wright experienced it all as a Met.

The Mets drafted Wright, who grew up as a Mets’ fan, with the 38th overall pick of the 2001 draft. The Mets received the 38th pick as compensation for losing Mike Hampton in free agency, the pitcher who posted a 3.14 ERA in 217.2 innings for pennant winning Mets in 2000.

After Wright’s first MLB hit, he never slowed down. He posted a .293/.332/.525 triple slash line with 14 home runs 40 RBI in 69 during his rookie campaign, and produced superstar numbers the following year (.306/.388/.523) on what was a revitalized Mets’ team. With the emergence of Wright and Jose Reyes, in addition to the marquee signings of Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran, it appeared that the Mets would be heading to a new era of success.

While the Mets did not make the playoffs in 2005, optimism continued to soar the following year. The Mets added All-Star closer Billy Wagner, veteran catcher Paul Lo Duca, and slugging first baseman, Carlos Delgado. The addition of Delgado solidified the lineup, giving the Mets an incredible trio that mashed their way to a 97 win season.

The highlights from Wright’s 2006 season include homering in the All-Star game, finishing second in the home run derby, and delivering one of the year’s signature hits.

In the Subway Series, Wright stepped up to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Yankees’ Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera. Not intimated by the legendary pitcher, Wright scorched a walk-off hit over the head of Johnny Damon to win the game 7-6.

But for a season that began with such promise, it ended in heartbreak. The Mets lost game 7 of the NLCS to the Cardinals in painful fashion. Despite Endy Chavez’s incredible catch, and a surprisingly solid start from the erratic and inexperienced Oliver Perez, the Mets fell short. Wright and the Mets were befuddled by the Cardinal’s Jeff Suppan, and had their rally thwarted by a wicked curveball from Adam Wainwright.

It seemed like the Mets would soon return to the playoffs, but that fateful game would only mark of the beginning of the Mets’ downward spiral. The Mets experienced back-to-back September collapses, the Bernie Madoff scandal that rocked the Mets’ ownership, and devastating injuries to key players. Consequently, Wright would not make another playoff appearance for almost another decade.

But through all the turmoil, Wright kept performing. Wright produced two of his best seasons in 2007 and 2008. He combined to bat .313/.403/.540 with an average of 32 home runs, 116 RBI and 24 stolen bases during those seasons.

After a fantastic 2012 season where Wright slashed .306/.391/.492 with 21 home runs, Wright signed a $138 Million contract extension. But despite being the highest paid Met, 2013 would be the last time Wright would post an OPS above .900 or bat over .300.

Injuries would start to take their toll on the Mets’ star third baseman, as he batted .269 with eight home runs in 134 games in 2014. By the time the Mets became competitive again in 2015, he was no longer the same force he was in his prime.

But Wright had room left for one last playoff push.

In a pivotal division battle against Washington, Wright delivered the go-ahead RBI in the seventh inning. When Yoenis Cespedes drove in Wright to extend their lead, Wright reveled in the Mets’ success, emphatically pumping his fists in celebration.

“You go through it in 2006 and 2007 and 2008, and you kind of believe that’s going to be the standard,” Wright said to reporters after the game. “I don’t think you truly appreciate it until you go through some of the years we’ve been through and understand how much more fun it is coming to the ballpark when you’re playing these types of games as opposed to kind of just playing out the schedule. I think that’s something maybe I took for granted those years that I don’t take for granted anymore. I’m going to enjoy this.”

With Wright as their captain, New York captured the NL East title, stormed past the Dodger’s vaunted rotation that featured two Cy Young Award winners in Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in the NLDS, and swept the up-and-coming Cubs in the NLCS.

But the Mets’ magic would run out as they fell to the Royals in the World Series. While Wright slumped for most of the series going 5-for-24, he would put on a show in game three. He blasted a first inning home run off Yordano Ventura and drove in four runs to fuel the Mets’ 9-3 victory – their only win against Royals that series.

Wright’s game three heroics was one of his last great performances, however. The following season, Wright posted the worst batting average of his career (.226) in 37 games before undergoing neck surgery.

After suffering multiple injuries and setbacks, Wright made one final appearance before retiring. In a tearful and emotional goodbye, Wright played his final two games on September 28 and 29 of 2018 in front of the Mets’ faithful at Citi Field.

“His grind just to get back to this spot has been unbelievable — and most people wouldn’t do it,” Manager Mickey Callaway said to reporters.  “He chose to do the right thing every single day. … We’re doing something special for David not because of the numbers he put up, but because of the person he is.”

It’s hard not to wonder about what could have been if Wright’s career was not impacted by injuries, or if they Mets pulled out a few extra wins in 2006-2008. Nonetheless, Wright provided Mets’ fans fond memories, even during the dark times.

It’s crazy to think that it all got started 15 years ago today with a double down the line.

“We’ve had some pretty good times here and some rough years but you guys have always had my back and that means the world to me,” Wright said to fans during his farewell speech. “I wish I could thank everyone individually but all I can do is say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“Thank you for letting me live out my dream here every single night.”