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David Wright

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David Wright
File:David wright.jpg
New York Mets – No. 5
Third Baseman
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
July 21, 2004, for the New York Mets
Career statistics
(through October 1, 2006)
Avg.306
RBI258
HR67

David Allen Wright (born December 20, 1982) is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the New York Mets.

High School Years

David Wright was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1982, and attended Hickory High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. He was a three-time All-State selection and, as a senior, he was named the Gatorade Virginia Baseball Player of the Year and the Virginia All-State Player of the Year. He finished his high school career with a .438 batting average, 13 home runs, and 50 RBI. Although Wright had signed a letter of intent before his senior year to play baseball at Georgia Tech after high school, he opted to enter the amateur draft when it became apparent he could be selected in the first round.

Professional Career

Wright was chosen by the Mets in the 2001 amateur draft as the 38th overall pick. His selection was in a special supplemental round after the first round as compensation for the Mets' loss of Mike Hampton to free agency. Wright was the Mets' second selection in the draft following current teammate Aaron Heilman.

Wright progressed steadily in his first three years of minor league play, winning the Sterling award for best player on the class A St. Lucie Mets in 2003. In 2004, he quickly rose from AA to AAA to the major leagues. On July 21, 2004, he made his major league debut starting at third base against the Montreal Expos. Since then, Wright has been the Mets regular starting third baseman.

David Wright along with Shortstop Jose Reyes combine to make on the best young duos on the left side of the infield in the Majors.

Wright has expressed his admiration for the skills of third baseman Scott Rolen.[1] Like Rolen, Wright has been an exceptional hitter in his early career. During his first major league season, he had a .293 batting average, 14 home runs and 40 RBI in 263 at bats in 69 games.

File:Wright ESPN Cover.jpg
David Wright on the cover of ESPN The Magazine's March 13, 2006 edition.

In 2005, his first full season in the majors, the 22-year-old Wright played in 160 games and batted .306 with 27 home runs, 99 runs, 102 RBI, 42 doubles, and 17 stolen bases, leading the team in average, runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, RBI, doubles, and finishing second in home runs to Cliff Floyd (34). Wright was also in the top ten in the National League for average, hits, total bases, RBI, extra base hits, and runs. Wright's diving, bare-handed catch in the August 9 loss to San Diego was voted the "This Year in Baseball Play of the Year."[2]

2006 Season
Batting Average .311
Home Runs 26
Runs Batted In 116
Hits 181
Runs Scored 96
Stolen Bases 20
On Base Percentage .381
Slugging Percentage .531

Wright is noted for his unaffected politeness and outstanding work ethic. He has developed a reputation for arriving very early to the park for games and being uncommonly accommodating with fans and reporters.[3]

In 2005, Wright began his own charitable organization, the David Wright Foundation. Its mission is to increase awareness about multiple sclerosis and to raise money for multiple sclerosis organizations and projects. The Foundation hosted its first annual gala at the New York Stock Exchange Members' Club on December 16, 2005, donating the proceeds to two multiple sclerosis centers.[4]

In 2006, Wright was named National League co-Player of the Week for June 12-18 along with teammate Jose Reyes.[5] It was Wright's second Player of the Week award. He was also named National League Player of the Month for June, becoming the first Met since Howard Johnson in 1991 to capture the award.[6] For the month, Wright batted .327 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI.

Wright was voted in to his first MLB All-Star Game as the starting third baseman for the NL. During the 2006 season, Wright collected 74 RBI before the All-Star Break, breaking the Mets record previously held by Mike Piazza, who had 72 RBI in 2000. Wright also participated in the 2006 Home Run Derby, reaching the final round but finishing second to Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit 22 home runs in the contest including 16 in the first round, the third highest total in any one round in the history of the Home Run Derby.[7] The following night, he hit a home run in his first All-Star Game at-bat off American League starting pitcher Kenny Rogers. Wright's homer was nearly the difference in the game as the the National League led 2-1 for most of the night before closer Trevor Hoffman blew the save in the top of the ninth inning. The NL lost, 3-2.

Wright ranks among the club's top three hitters in all offensive categories for the 2006 Mets, who are the top run-scoring team in the National League. Fans at Shea Stadium have routinely greeted Wright's performances with chants of "M-V-P, M-V-P." According to teammate Tom Glavine, "He's probably been our most clutch hitter over the first half of the season and he's certainly thrown his hat into the MVP talks."[8]

On August 6, 2006, Wright signed a 6-year contract extension with the Mets worth $55 million, as well as a $1.5 million signing bonus. The contract will pay him $1 million in 2007, $5 million in 2008, $7.5 million in 2009, $10 million in 2010, $14 million in 2011, and $15 million in 2012. The contract also contains a club option for 2013 which is worth $16 million. Wright has already announced that he will donate $1.5 million to the Mets Foundation throughout the course of this contract.[9]

Trivia

  • His nickname in the clubhouse is Visine.[12]
  • He is sponsored by Vitamin Water.[13] [14]
  • His favorite movie is Braveheart.

Media Apperances

In 2006, David appeared on MTV's Total Request Live with fellow teammate Cliff Floyd. He also made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on July 12, 2006. That same day he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated along with Mets teammates Carlos Beltran, Paul Lo Duca, Carlos Delgado, and Jose Reyes.

Preceded by National League Player of the Month
June, 2006 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ Interview with The Sports Network
  2. ^ 2005 This Year in Baseball Awards
  3. ^ Lidz, Franz (2006-05-29). "Prince Of the City". Sports Illustrated (in print as well as online for subscribers only). Retrieved 2006-07-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ The David Wright Foundation
  5. ^ Infielders share Player of Week honors
  6. ^ David Wright of Mets and Chris Young of Padres voted National League Player and Pitcher of the Month for June
  7. ^ "King of swing". Associated Press. 2006-07-10. Retrieved 2006-07-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Lennon, David (2006-07-10). "An All-Star Met makes own break". Newsday. Retrieved 2006-07-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Mets sign Wright to six-year, $55M extension". Associated Press. 2006-08-06. Retrieved 2006-08-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Syken, Bill (2006-04-03). "MLB Preview: New York Mets". Sports Illustrated Online Edition. Retrieved 2006-07-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ I love david wright!!!! lets go Mets!!!!Hoch, Bryan (2005-06-24). "Notes: Wright soaks up Yankee Stadium". MLB.com. Retrieved 2006-07-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Verducci, Tom (2006-07-11). "Joy Ride". Sports Illustrated (in print as well as online for subscribers only). Retrieved 2006-07-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ David Wright Foundation Website Do The Wright Thing Gala
  14. ^ Lennon, David (2006-07-13). "Late Night with David Wright". Newsday.com. Retrieved 2006-07-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Delta names airplane for David Wright". Associated Press. 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2006-10-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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