The New York Mets placed All-Star third baseman David Wright on the 15-day DL Saturday with a strained right hamstring, according to ESPNNewYork.com.
The Mets captain suffered the injury while running out an infield hit in the bottom of tenth inning in last night’s game against the Kansas City Royals.
Wright had been suffering from a sore hamstring for the past week. However, the Mets said it was a cramp and maintained Wright could play through the injury.
The Mets will no doubtedly miss Wright (.309 BA, 16 HR, 54 RBI and .391 OBP) who is easily their best bat in the lineup.
"There are certain guys you almost can't afford to lose," manager Terry Collins said. "He would fit that category for us.”
The injury forces the team to find someone who can hit third in the lineup and play third base.
Today, first baseman Josh Satin will hit third. However, that is only due to the lefty, Bruce Chen, who will be starting for the Royals today.
Daniel Murphy will eventually take Wright’s spot in both the field and the lineup. Since the team called up Mike Baxter to fill the open roster spot, current left fielder Eric Young will eventually move to second base to open up a spot in the field for Baxter.
Justin Turner is at third base today for the Mets.
Wright hasn’t spent much time on the DL in his 10-year career. In 2009 he suffered a concussion after being hit in the head by a pitch from San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain. He only missed two weeks. In 2011 he sat out for two months after suffering a stress fracture in his bat.
Wright received the name “Captain America” for his stellar play during the World Baseball Classic in March. He had to pull out of the tournament after he suffered a rib injury. However, it did not prevent him from being in the lineup on Opening Day.
