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

🚨EXCLUSIVE: Steve Cohen’s massive spending is raising questions — is he getting the culture right? Sal Licata breaks down the shocking Mets transition for 2026, focusing on the “Personality Shift.” Why prioritize chemistry over Pete Alonso’s power? We dive into the locker room drama and high-stakes gambles on Bo Bichette and the new rotation. Championship blueprint or disaster?..ll👇👇👇

іn the world of New York ѕрortѕ, the trаnѕіtіon from one erа to аnother іѕ rаrely quіet. іt іѕ often loud, exрenѕіve, аnd fіlled wіth the kіnd…

🚨BREAKING: YANKEES LEGEND DEREK JETER REJECTS THREE HUGE CONTRACT OFFERS FROM BIG TEAMS – RETURNS TO THE YANKEES AS A SENIOR ADVISOR THIS MARCH! — Jeter rejects massive offers from the Dodgers ($50M/5 years), Mets ($45M for President role), and Marlins ($30-40M + stock) to rejoin the Yankees. Fans are stunned by this shocking decision. See more here: [Link] 👇👇👇

BREAKING: YANKEES LEGEND DEREK JETER REJECTS MASSIVE OFFERS TO RETURN TO THE BRONX AS SENIOR ADVISOR IN MARCH 2026 NEW YORK — In a move that has…

🚨EXCLUSIVE: CME Group Becomes Chicago White Sox’s First Jersey Patch Sponsor in Multi-Year Deal — What Does This Game-Changing Partnership Mean for the Future of the Sox? Fans are excited to see how this deal will impact the team’s brand and community engagement 👇👇👇

CME Group Becomes Chicago White Sox’s First Jersey Patch Sponsor in Historic Multi-Year Deal In a groundbreaking move for both the Chicago White Sox and CME Group,…

🚨BREAKING: Another Shortstop Headed to Braves on Minor League Deal — Is This the Move That Will Help Atlanta Build Even Stronger Depth? Fans are curious how this addition will impact the Braves’ roster and their playoff aspirations 👇👇👇

Atlanta Braves Add Infield Depth with Minor League Signing of Shortstop Jordan Groshans As the 2026 MLB season rapidly approaches, the Atlanta Braves have made another strategic…

🚨REPORT: Red Sox Must Ignore 3-for-1 Tarik Skubal Mock Trade — Could This Risky Move Backfire and Hurt Boston’s Long-Term Plans? Fans are questioning whether this trade idea is worth pursuing, or if the Red Sox should stay focused on their future 👇👇👇

Red Sox Should Steer Clear of High-Risk Trade for Tarik Skubal As the 2026 MLB season quickly approaches, the Boston Red Sox are in a position to…

🚨BREAKING: Yankees Land RHP in Trade With Rockies — Is This the Key Acquisition to Strengthen Their Rotation for the Postseason? Fans are buzzing as the Yankees make a crucial move to bolster their pitching staff ahead of the playoff push 👇👇👇

Yankees Acquire Right-Handed Reliever Angel Chivilli from Rockies to Strengthen Bullpen In a move aimed at fortifying their bullpen, the New York Yankees have made another offseason…