Mets Captain, David Wright calling it a career after this season

It's a sad day for New York Mets Captain David Wright, the fans who support the team, and the people who followed the player/man that David Wright is. In a press conference earlier in the day Thursday the Mets announced that they will activate Wright off the disabled list on September 25th for their final homestead of the 2018 season. The plan is to have him play third base on the 29th at home against the Miami Marlins for seemingly the final time of his career.

Here's a clip of what Wright said as he was fighting tears talking about having to call it a career:

David Wright has been fighting to return to the field, battling through chronic spinal stenosis which he was diagnosed with early in the 2015 season. He was able to return later that year to make a run to the Wolrd Series with the Mets as they eventually fell in five games to the Kansas City Royals.

As it would turn out, that would be the last meaningful baseball he would play in his career and injuries continued to set him back. Through it all, he's been trying diligently to get his way back to the field to play one more time and he said he's got one reason for that.

"I always wanted to be on the field again to have my daughter see me play," Wright said. "I cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for everything this organization has done and continues to do for me. … this is my extended family."

In 13 seasons with the Mets, Wright was a seven-time All-Star, he's hit .296/.376/.491 with 242 homers, 390 doubles, 970 RBI, and 949 runs scored.

Among the all-time Mets records Wright holds are hits (1,777), doubles, total bases (2,665), RBI, and runs scored. He is currently second all-time in homers, behind Darryl Strawberry (252).

Wright is under contract through the 2020 season and was set to earn $15 million in 2019 and $12 million in 2020, during what is the final year of the eight-year, $138 million deal he signed prior to the 2013 season.

If you never really followed David Wright or his career, let me be the first to tell you that he's one of the classiest individuals around the game of baseball and just in general as a person. He's got a number of charitable foundations, he's been nothing but a role model for a younger generation of players, and one of the few to have the label of "Captain" as a New York Met. He was a huge part of my teenage years growing up as, not only a baseball player but a Mets fan, he will certainly be missed around the game of baseball. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he becomes a coach or found himself in a management position within an organization's front office, maybe with the Mets? Hey, a guy can dream.

"I love the game; I love the relationships; I love the preparation; I love talking baseball, anything about the game," Wright said. "I miss it. I wish that things could've certainly turned out differently physically, but as far as regrets go, I can't say that I have regrets."

Here's to you David Wright, cheers. May you find happiness in the next chapter of your life.

For all my sports posts and to hear my inner sports thoughts, make sure to keep up with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.