David Wright sounded optimistic after his first spring training game on Monday.
“I feel good,” he told reporters after his four innings of play. “I feel healthy. I got a chance to dive around a little bit, run the bases a little bit, see some pitches, get some at-bats. Now it’s just a matter of getting reps.”
That isn’t a small matter.
The Mets third baseman sat out most of the spring recovering from a torn abdominal muscle. Now he’s got just two weeks to get ready for Opening Day.
For a player of Wright’s caliber, that’s not too much to expect. But there are other factors that are likely to slow Wright’s progress.
Here are five reasons why Wright may not have the right stuff in April.