David Wright hopes Juan Soto helps Mets win ‘more championships’

NEW YORK – David Wright is looking for Juan Soto and the New York Mets to win the World Series title that eluded him.

“It seems like the will to win in the organization is incredible,” the former Mets captain said Wednesday during a Zoom news conference that followed the team’s announcement that his No. 5 will be retired on July 19.

New York, which won its only titles in 1969 and 1986, has become baseball’s biggest spender since Steve Cohen bought the team from the Wilpon and Katz families ahead of the 2021 season. Soto was given a record $765 million, 15-year contract last month.

“It’s a win-at-all-costs, do-whatever-you-can-to-win type of mentality, and that’s something I love,” Wright said. “It’s something that the city loves. It’s something that the fan base definitely loves. … The goal isn’t just set now to win a championship. It’s hey, let’s go on a run and win more championships.”

Wright’s number will be the 10th retired by the Mets, the sixth under Cohen. Wright spent his entire 14-season major league career with the Mets and will enter the team’s Hall of Fame, joining Tom Seaver as the only players to receive both honors on the same day.

He had some advice for first baseman Pete Alonso, a free agent after spending his first six seasons with the Mets. Wright cited the Yankees’ Derek Jeter and Atlanta’s Chipper Jones, who also only played for one organization.

“It’s a different feeling when you’re drafted, developed and playing for the team that gave you your first opportunity,” Wright said. “There’s a little bit more – maybe a lot more pride when you put that jersey on every night. And I hope he remembers that and doesn’t lose sight of that. Having said that, I’ve never, ever accused a player of maximizing his earning potential.”

Wright spoke from his home near the wildfires in California and discussed his career as a seven-time All-Star. He hit .296 with 242 homers, 970 RBIs and 196 stolen bases from 2004-18, slowed by neck, back and shoulder injuries that required surgery. He credited his success to his father, a police officer, and his mother, an elementary school teaching assistant.

“The blue collar, take your lunch-to-work mentality with me my whole career,” Wright said. “I knew I wasn’t the most talented, most gifted player on the court, but I always felt I was the most prepared.”

Wright, who turned 42 on Dec. 20, joins Dwight Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Jerry Koosman, Willie Mays, Mike Piazza, Seaver and Darryl Strawberry as Mets players with retired numbers. Managers Gil Hodges’ and Casey Stengel’s numbers were also retired. After the Mets made the announcement Monday, Wright received a text from Hernandez.

“I don’t think it’s hit me. I don’t think it’s ever going to hit me,” Wright said. “I really feel it’s a bit undeserved given the skill and performance of some of the acts that I’ll be up there. I joke that I think there should be a special section for my act because it probably doesn’t deserves to be among the really, really good players in the organization.”

Wright recalled receiving constructive criticism from Strawberry during his playing days.

“When I knew Darryl was there, I wanted to play well because I wanted him to high-five me and I didn’t want to have that conversation about why I stunk that night,” he said .

Wright said the transition from playing was eased by family responsibilities. He coaches the soccer team for 8-year-old daughter Olivia, the softball team for 6-year-old daughter Madison and the baseball team for 4-year-old son Brooks and takes them to the occasional Mets game.

“I enjoy the look in their eyes when they see Francisco Lindor or Brandon Nimmo come up and say hello in full uniform,” he said. “They look at me and they say, ‘Dad, did you used to do that?'”

He played just two games for the Mets after 2016, returning to be honored with a pair of cameos at the end of the 2018 season.

“I felt like I was crying the whole time, so I’ll try to step it up a little this time,” he said.

Wright had realized he could no longer play at the major league level.

“I remember my rehab assignments,” he said, “just hoping that the game would go as quickly as possible and that they wouldn’t hit me any balls at third base because I wouldn’t bend funny or dive funny or have to make a weird off-angle throw because something might hurt.”