David Wright to be honored with number retirement and place in Mets Hall of Fame

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 22: Former New York Mets third baseman, David Wright during the 101st PGA Championship Ambassador Announcement at Mets Spring Training on March 22, 2019 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

The moment Mets fans have been waiting for since 2018 will finally arrive July 19 when the club retires David Wright’s number and inducts him into the team hall of fame in a dual ceremony at Citi Field. The team released more details of the historic event Monday afternoon, confirming what the Daily News and others reported last month.

Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen released a statement congratulating the team’s most recent captain.

“David Wright personified class on and off the field. David is the definition of a Met,” the owners said. “He grew up going to Mets Triple-A games in his hometown of Norfolk, Va., and was drafted by the organization in 2001. His spectacular career included seven All-Star appearances, two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards before he played an emotional final game in 2018.

“For a generation of Mets fans, he was their Tom Seaver, so it is a fitting tribute that only David and Tom have gone into the Mets Hall of Fame and had their number retired on the same day.”

No. 5 will become the 11th number taken out of circulation. Wright joins former Mets greats Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, as well as late managers Gil Hodges and Casey Stengel, and Jackie Robinson, whose No. 42 is retired from all of Major League Baseball.

“Excited, humbled, honored are just some of the words to describe the thought of this summer’s Mets Hall of Fame induction and seeing No. 5 up at Citi Field next to some of the best players to ever play the game,” Wright said in a statement thanking the Cohens and the fans.

The former third baseman became one of the most prolific homegrown hitters in club history after being drafted by the Mets No. 38 overall in 2001 out of Hickory High School in Virginia. He  still leads the franchise in hits (1,777), RBI (970), runs (949), doubles (390), extra-base hits (658) and walks (762), he’s second in games played (1,585) and home runs (242), third in batting average (.296) and fourth in stolen bases (196) and on-base percentage (.376).

The fourth player ever to be named a captain for the Mets, Wright was an influential figure in the clubhouse throughout his 14-year career. His career was cut short due to spinal stenosis, a degenerative back condition that limited him to only 77 games over his final three seasons (2015-2018).

Wright was forced into retirement at the age of 35, saying goodbye to the only team he had ever known in an emotional ceremony at Citi Field on September 29, 2018. While Wright admitted that he wasn’t ready to stop playing, his body said otherwise.

Questions about his legacy followed with many wondering what he could have accomplished had he not suffered from back and neck injuries. But he had little left to prove after helping the Mets win a pennant in 2015 and putting together a body of work worthy of Hall of Fame votes.

Since retiring, Wright has remained with the organization as an ambassador, traveling to New York and Florida from his home in Los Angeles several times a year to fulfill various duties. Wright helps mentor prospects, aids in sponsorship events and even hosts the Battle of the Badges, the Mets’ annual charity game between members of the NYPD and NYFD.

“I can’t quite put into words the appreciation I have for the city of New York and Mets fans,” Wright said. “For 15 years I felt like I had 40,000 friends and family members in the stands each night. It was an honor of a lifetime taking the field as your captain and I truly feel like this honor is just as much yours as it is mine.”

Following the ceremony, the Mets will host the Cincinnati Reds at 4:10 p.m.

Related Posts

🚨 REPORT WHITE SOX LINEUP NOTES (4/10): PLENTY OF RIGHTIES, DON’T GET FOOLED BY BUBIC, insiders say the team is gearing up for a strategic showdown, with the lineup designed to exploit matchups, and a focus on staying sharp against a tricky pitcher, all eyes are on the White Sox as they look to make their move 👇👇👇

The Chicago White Sox had lost 14 straight games at Kauffman Stadium until last night. Can they continue to show times have changed with another win tonight?…

🚨REPORT: ABEL SHINES, LEE DELIVERS—BUT IS THIS SWEEP THE TURNING POINT THE TWINS DESPERATELY NEEDED? A CLUTCH SWING AND A PITCHING GEM SEALED THE TIGERS’ FATE, YET BIGGER QUESTIONS STILL LINGER BENEATH THE CELEBRATION. HAS MINNESOTA FINALLY FOUND ITS RHYTHM, OR IS THIS MOMENT JUST MASKING DEEPER ISSUES? THE ANSWER MAY DEFINE WHAT COMES NEXT.

Minnesota Twins Sweep Detroit Tigers to Climb Above .500 Behind Clutch Hits and Bullpen Brilliance The Minnesota Twins are back on track in the 2026 MLB season…

🚨 BREAKING: Baltimore Orioles Offseason Gamble Backfiring? Former Arm Thriving Elsewhere Raises Early Concerns What looked like a calculated move is now turning heads — and not in a good way. 👀 A pitcher the Orioles moved on from is already finding success in a new uniform, while Baltimore faces early questions about whether they misread the situation. Too early to panic… or a warning sign of a costly offseason decision? ⚾🔥

Orioles’ Conservative Pitching Strategy Backfires Early as Rotation Struggles Mount The Baltimore Orioles are already facing tough questions just weeks into the season—and their approach to pitching…

🚨 THE ATHLETIC’S LATEST DRAFT RANKINGS REVEAL A TEMPTATION THE BRAVES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESIST—BUT SHOULD THEY? WITH TOP TALENT STARING THEM IN THE FACE, ATLANTA FACES A CLASSIC DILEMMA BETWEEN NEED AND BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE. ONE DECISION COULD SHAPE THE FUTURE, OR CREATE REGRET JUST AS QUICKLY. WHAT THEY DO NEXT MIGHT DEFINE MORE THAN JUST THIS DRAFT.

Atlanta Braves 2026 MLB Draft Strategy: Will They Prioritize Pitching or Finally Target Impact Bats? For the first time in years, the Atlanta Braves find themselves in…

🚨 BOMBSHELL FORMER RED SOX ACE LUCAS GIOLITO OPENS UP ON SALARY NEEDS, insiders reveal Giolito’s candid comments about his financial expectations could shift the market, with teams now watching closely to see if a bidding war will ensue for the star pitcher’s services, the clock is ticking on his next big move 👇👇👇

Getty Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito has revealed why he remains a free agent. The 2019 All-Star entered the previous offseason as one of the…

🚨 REPORT BOSTON RED SOX MAKE GAME-CHANGING ROMAN ANTHONY DECISION BEFORE CARDINALS GAME, insiders say the move could have significant implications for the team’s future, with Anthony’s role now firmly in focus as Boston looks to shake things up, fans are eager to see what impact this decision will have on the lineup 👇👇👇

Getty BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 06: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox sits in the dugout after an 8-6 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers at…