David Wright rehabs after lengthy absence

It’s been a long road to recovery for New York Mets third baseman David Wright. The 35-year-old has not appeared in a major league game since May 2016, and since the start of the 2015 season has appeared in just 75 MLB games.

Wright was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2015 and has since battled injuries to his back, shoulder, and neck.

On Sunday afternoon, he took the next step toward a big-league comeback. Playing for the St. Lucie Mets of the High-A Florida State League, the seven-time All Star played five innings against the Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies) at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Fla.

Wright attempted a comeback in August of last season as well. He appeared in three games for St. Lucie before being shutdown, ultimately undergoing operations on his back and shoulder.

Batting out of the three-hole on Sunday, Wright went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He saw limited action in the field as well recording one put-out during his five innings at third base.

Wright’s rehab stint will likely be an extended one, however, barring a set-back, it is possible that the Virginia native could return to New York before the end of the 2018 season. While it’s easy to say that the club shouldn’t rush him back during a lost season, Wright’s return could do wonders for him personally and, more-so, provide a veteran voice for guys like Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto, and Amed Rosario — a group of young position players that hope to propel the Mets’ offense back to NL East relevance.