David Wright facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Wright
Wright with the New York Mets in 2016
Third baseman
Born: (1982-12-20) December 20, 1982 (age 42) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
July 21, 2004, for the New York Mets
Last appearance
September 29, 2018, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average	.296
Home runs	242
Runs batted in	970
Teams
New York Mets (2004–2016, 2018)
Career highlights and awards
7× All-Star (2006–2010, 2012, 2013) 2× Gold Glove Award (2007, 2008) 2× Silver Slugger Award (2007, 2008)

David Allen Wright, born on December 20, 1982, is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire 14-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a third baseman for the New York Mets. The Mets picked him in the 2001 MLB draft, and he started playing in the big leagues on July 21, 2004.

David Wright also played for the United States national baseball team. Fans nicknamed him "Captain America" because of his amazing performance in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In that tournament, he led all players with 10 RBIs and a .438 batting average. He was even named to the All-World Baseball Classic Team.

Wright was a seven-time All-Star. He also won two Gold Glove Awards for his great defense and two Silver Slugger Awards for his hitting. He is also a member of the 30–30 club, meaning he hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases in one season. Many Mets fans consider him one of the most loved players in the team's history. He holds many Mets records for position players, including the most career plate appearances. In 2013, he became the fourth captain in Mets history.

Later in his career, David Wright faced many injuries. The most serious was spinal stenosis, a back condition. He also had problems with his neck and shoulder. Because of these injuries, he missed a lot of games from 2015 to 2018. Doctors told him his back condition would not get better. So, Wright announced that 2018 would be his last season as a player. He finished his MLB career with a .296 batting average, 242 Home runs, and 970 RBIs. After he stopped playing, Wright became a special advisor for the Mets team office.

David Wright's Early Life

Wright (right) and Michael Cuddyer played baseball together as children in Virginia before playing together on the Mets in 2015.

David Wright was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He was the oldest of four sons. His father, Rhon, was a police officer. David grew up as a Mets fan because the Class AAA Norfolk Tides stadium was close to his home. The Tides were a minor league team for the Mets.

When he was young, Wright took hitting lessons with Michael Cuddyer, who also became a Major League player. In high school, he played baseball with other future MLB stars like Ryan Zimmerman and B. J. Upton. Wright played baseball at Hickory High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Before his senior year, he decided to play college baseball at Georgia Tech. In his senior year of high school, he had an amazing .538 batting average.

David Wright's Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The New York Mets chose David Wright in the 2001 MLB draft. He was picked as a special compensation player. This happened because the Mets lost another player, Mike Hampton, to another team.

Wright quickly moved up through the minor league system. In 2003, he won an award for being the best player on the Class A St. Lucie Mets. In 2004, he moved from the Double-A Binghamton Mets to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. Soon after, he made it to the major leagues.

Playing for the New York Mets

2004: His First Year

On July 21, 2004, David Wright played his first Major League game. He started at third base against the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium. The next day, he got his first career hit, a double. On July 26, he hit his first MLB home run. Wright finished his first season with a .293 batting average, 14 home runs, and 40 RBIs in 69 games. He was voted the Rookie of the Year by This Year in Baseball Awards.

2005: A Standout Season

On August 9, 2005, Wright made an amazing barehanded catch during a game against the San Diego Padres. He ran backward with his back to home plate and caught the ball cleanly with his bare right hand. He held onto the ball even after crashing to the ground. This play was voted the "This Year in Baseball Play of the Year."

In 2005, Wright played in 160 games. He batted .306 with 27 home runs and 102 RBIs. He also scored 99 runs, hit 42 doubles, and stole 17 bases. He led the Mets in many important hitting categories.

2006: First All-Star Game

Wright with the Mets in 2006

In 2006, David Wright was named National League Co-Player of the Week in June. He batted .327 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs that month. He also had several game-winning hits throughout the season. One memorable hit was a walk-off single against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in the first game of the 2006 Subway Series.

Wright was voted to his first MLB All-Star Game as the starting third baseman for the National League. He also took part in the 2006 Home Run Derby. He reached the final round but finished second. He hit 22 home runs in the contest, including 16 in the first round. The next night, he hit a home run in his first All-Star Game at-bat.

Wright was one of the top hitters for the Mets in 2006. Fans at Shea Stadium often chanted "M-V-P, M-V-P" for him. On August 6, 2006, Wright signed a 6-year contract extension with the Mets. The Mets won the NL East title in 2006 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Wright finished the season batting .311 with 26 home runs, 116 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.

2007: The 30-30 Club

On April 21, 2007, David Wright's hitting streak of 26 regular-season games ended. This streak was a team record. On September 16, 2007, Wright joined the exclusive 30–30 club. He hit a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies to reach 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in one season. He was only the third player in baseball history to do this before turning 25.

Wright finished the 2007 season with a .325 batting average, 30 home runs, 107 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases. He won the 2007 Gold Glove Award and the Silver Slugger Award for third base.

2008: Another Great Year

Wright with the Mets in 2008

David Wright started 2008 strong. On April 13, 2008, he hit his 100th career home run. On August 7, he hit the first walk-off home run of his career, giving the Mets a 5–3 victory.

On November 5, Wright won his second straight Gold Glove Award for third basemen. He also won his second Silver Slugger Award. Wright finished the 2008 season with a .302 batting average, 33 home runs, and 124 RBIs.

2009: First Injury

On April 13, 2009, David Wright hit the first Mets home run in the new Citi Field stadium. In mid-August, Wright got his first career injury. He suffered a concussion when a fastball hit him in the head. He was placed on the disabled list. Despite the injury, he returned to play in September. Wright's performance dropped in 2009, with 10 home runs and 72 RBIs.

2010: Back on Track

Wright with the Mets in 2011

David Wright worked hard before the 2010 season to get back in shape. On Opening Day, he hit a two-run home run. On April 27, he got his 1,000th career hit. By June 25, he led the team with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs.

On July 4, Wright was named the starting third baseman for the National League in the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. This was his fifth straight All-Star appearance. He was also named the National League Player of the Month for June 2010. Wright finished the 2010 season with a .283 batting average, 29 home runs, and 103 RBIs.

2011: Back Injury

On April 5, 2011, David Wright got his 90th career game-winning RBI, passing Mike Piazza for the most in Mets history. On May 16, doctors found a stress fracture in his lower back. This injury kept him off the field for over two months. He returned on July 22. On August 7, he even played shortstop for the first time in his career due to other team injuries. In only 102 games, Wright finished the season with a .254 batting average and 14 home runs.

2012: Breaking Records

Wright with the Mets in 2012

On April 11, 2012, David Wright fractured his right pinkie finger. But he only missed three games. On April 25, he hit a two-run home run, giving him 735 career RBIs. This passed Darryl Strawberry for the most in Mets history. On June 5, he broke another Mets record by scoring his 736th run, passing José Reyes.

On July 1, Wright was named to his 6th All-Star team. On August 24, he hit his 200th career home run. On September 25, Wright tied the all-time Mets hit record with Ed Kranepool at 1,418 hits. The next day, he broke the record with an infield single. After the season, Wright finished 6th in the voting for the 2012 NL MVP Award.

Contract Extension and Captaincy

On November 30, 2012, David Wright and the Mets agreed to a seven-year, $138 million contract extension. This was a big deal for the Mets. General Manager Sandy Alderson said Wright was a great leader and role model.

On March 21, 2013, the Mets announced that Wright had been named the fourth team captain in Mets history. He joined Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and John Franco.

2013: World Baseball Classic Star

David Wright got his 1,500th career hit on June 18. He was also named the National League's Home Run Derby team captain for the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. On July 6, he was named the starting third baseman for the National League team in the All-Star Game. This was his seventh All-Star appearance.

On August 3, Wright was placed on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. When he returned, he hit two home runs in his first two games. He passed Mike Piazza for the second-most home runs hit by a Mets player. Wright played in 112 games in 2013, batting .307 with 18 home runs.

2014: Shoulder Issues

Wright with the Mets in 2014

In February 2014, David Wright was chosen as the "Face of MLB" in an online contest. His performance in 2014 was not as strong as previous years. He batted .269, his lowest average since 2011. This was due to a recurring shoulder injury. He had a left rotator cuff injury that affected his hitting and defense. Wright played in 134 games with 8 home runs and 63 RBIs.

2015: Spinal Stenosis and World Series

On April 14, 2015, David Wright strained his right hamstring. He was later diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a back condition. This injury meant he would miss a lot of time. On August 10, he began playing in minor league rehab games.

When he returned on August 24, he hit a home run in his first at-bat. His return helped the Mets reach the 2015 World Series against the Kansas City Royals. In Game 3, he hit his only World Series home run and had 4 RBIs. Wright played in only 38 games in 2015, batting .289 with 5 home runs.

2016: Neck Surgery

Because of his spinal stenosis, David Wright had a long pre-game routine of physical therapy and exercises. On June 3, Wright was placed on the disabled list due to a herniated disc in his neck. On June 16, he had neck surgery. Wright missed the rest of the 2016 season. He played a career-low 37 games, batting .226 with 7 home runs.

2017: Shoulder Surgery

On February 28, 2017, David Wright was diagnosed with a right shoulder problem. This injury prevented him from playing in the majors all year. On September 4, he had surgery on his right shoulder.

2018: Final Games

Wright acknowledging the crowd during his final professional game on September 29, 2018

On March 13, 2018, David Wright faced more setbacks with his back and shoulder. He was cleared to start baseball activities again on June 1. On August 28, he was promoted to AAA Las Vegas to continue his rehab.

On September 13, the Mets announced that Wright would play in the team's last homestand of the season. He started the September 29 game against the Miami Marlins, which was his final appearance before retiring. On September 28, he played as a pinch hitter, his first MLB appearance in over two years. The next day, Wright batted once and fielded one ground ball before leaving the game in the fifth inning. Fans and players gave him a long standing ovation. After the game, Wright thanked the fans at Citi Field for their support.

Career Statistics

In 1,585 games over 14 seasons, David Wright had a .296 batting average. He scored 949 runs, hit 390 doubles, 26 triples, and 242 home runs. He also had 970 runs batted in and 196 stolen bases. His on-base percentage was .376 and his slugging percentage was .491. As a third baseman, his fielding percentage was .955.

Number Retirement

On December 13, 2024, the Mets announced that David Wright's number 5 will be officially retired at Citi Field. He will also be inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame on July 19, 2025.

David Wright in the World Baseball Classic

Wright batting for the U.S. national team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic

David Wright was chosen to play third base for the United States national baseball team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. In a key game against Puerto Rico, Wright hit a walk-off single in the 9th inning to win the game for the U.S. team. This win helped Team USA reach the semifinal round.

He was selected again to play third base in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In the 2013 WBC, Wright hit a grand slam against Italy. This was only the second time a U.S. player hit a grand slam in the WBC. In another game against Puerto Rico, Wright had 5 RBIs. He finished the tournament with the most RBIs of any player. This is when he earned the nickname "Captain America". Wright was chosen as the third baseman for the All-WBC team, the only American player to receive this honor.

Mets Team Records Held by David Wright

David Wright holds many important records for the New York Mets:

• Most career All-Star Game appearances
• Most career At-Bats (5,998)
• Most career Bases on Balls (762)
• Most career Doubles (390)
• Most career Extra Base Hits (658)
• Most career Hits (1,777)
• Most career Offensive WAR (51.9)
• Most career Plate Appearances (6,872)
• Most career Runs Batted In (970)
• Most career Runs Created (1,134)
• Most career Runs Scored (949)
• Most career Sacrifice Flies (65)
• Most career Strikeouts (1,292)
• Most career Times On Base (2,584)
• Most career Total Bases (2,945)
• Most career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for Position Players (49.2)

Awards and Honors for David Wright

The Mets will retire David Wright's number 5 on July 19, 2025.

David Wright's Personal Life

David Wright has homes in Manhattan, Manhattan Beach, California, and Chesapeake, Virginia. He owns a boxer dog named Homer. His teammates sometimes called him "Visine" or "Hollywood."

In May 2007, a company called Vitamin Water was sold for a lot of money. As part of his endorsement deal, Wright received about $20 million from the sale.

David Wright married model Molly Beers on December 26, 2013, in La Jolla, California. They have two daughters and a son.

Wright's book, The Captain, was published on October 13, 2020. He wrote it with Anthony DiComo, a baseball writer.

Charitable Work

David Wright Foundation

In 2005, David Wright started his own charity, the David Wright Foundation. Its goal is to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis (MS) and collect money for MS organizations. The Foundation held its first big event in December 2005.

Big League Impact

Wright is the New York City host for Big League Impact. This is a fantasy football network started by pitcher Adam Wainwright. In 2015, this organization raised over $1 million for different charities.

David Wright in the Media

Delta Air Lines named an airplane The Wright Flight after David Wright. The plane has his signature and jersey number (5) near the door. Wright is known for being polite and working hard. He often arrived very early for games and was friendly with fans and reporters.

Wright was featured on the cover of the video game MLB 07: The Show. He also appeared in a TV commercial for Fathead wall graphics.

In 2006, Wright appeared on MTV's Total Request Live and the Late Show with David Letterman. He was also on the cover of Sports Illustrated with some of his Mets teammates.

On January 3, 2008, Wright appeared on Celebrity Apprentice to help buy hot dogs for charity. He is also a spokesperson for Ford in the New York/New Jersey area.

Images for kids

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  Wright batting for the U.S. national team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic

See also

In Spanish: David Wright (beisbolista) para niños