NEW YORK (AP) - David Wright will have surgery on his right rotator cuff Tuesday, ending any hope of the star third baseman playing for the New York Mets this season.
The Mets announced Monday that the 34-year-old team captain would have the operation.
Wright last played in the majors in May 2016. He had surgery the following month for a herniated disk in his neck.
Wright was limited to just 37 games last year. He cut short his comeback try in the minors last week after experiencing pain in his throwing shoulder. Wright began the season on the disabled list and spent the first few months in rehab.
“This guy is one of the best players in the game and he’s had to miss the amount of time he’s had to miss with various injuries,” Mets manager Terry Collins said.
Wright has three years and $47 million remaining on an eight-year, $138 million deal he signed in 2012.
The face of the franchise, Wright averaged 156 games from 2005-10, his first six full seasons in the majors. A few injuries limited him to an average of 126 games over the next four seasons.
Wright is a seven-time All-Star, hitting .296 in his career with 242 home runs and 970 RBIs.
“Talking with him the other day, they just thought this is the only thing that they need to take care of and get done so he can get back on the field and continue the process of trying to get back,” Collins said. “I salute him for what he has had to go through, but it’s been really tough to watch.”
Wright’s career took a turn for the worse in the second week of the 2015 season. He was put on the 15-day disabled list on April 15, 2015 due to a strained right hamstring. While rehabbing the following month, Wright suffered a back injury and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.
Wright managed to make it back in late August as the Mets were in full control of the division. He was in the middle of a celebratory scrum on the field in Cincinnati on Sept. 27 when New York clinched the NL East and its first trip to the postseason since 2006.
Wright would end up hitting .289 with a career-low of five home runs and 17 RBIs 38 games. He then struggled at the plate for a team that lost the World Series in five games to the Kansas City Royals, hitting just .185 with one homer and seven RBIs while striking out 20 times in 54 at-bats over 14 postseason games.
For Jose Reyes, it’s been tough to see what his close friend has had to endure.
From 2005-11, Reyes and Wright were the heart of the Mets lineup, manning the left side of the infield before Reyes departed via free agency to the Miami Marlins.
“It’s sad,” Reyes said. “All the work that he put in all this time and now at this time of the season he has to go and have surgery. . It’s tough.”
The Mets, who have been ravaged by injuries throughout this disappointing season, announced that All-Star outfielder Michael Conforto will be undergoing surgery in Los Angeles this week to repair a tear in the posterior capsule in his left shoulder this week. Infielder T.J. Rivera will require Tommy John operation on his right elbow this week as well.
The Mets also said lefty reliever Josh Edgin would have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Starter Noah Syndergaard (partially torn lat) will make his second rehab start Thursday for Class A Brooklyn.
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