NEW YORK -- New York Mets captain David Wright finished 2-for-5 and played a full game at third base for Class A St. Lucie on Friday as his rehabilitation assignment continued with the Florida State League club. The first five outs of the game were played Thursday before the game was suspended because of rain. Wright also committed a fielding error.
Also with St. Lucie, Kirk Nieuwenhuis had a two-run homer in the ninth and finished 1-for-4 with a walk. It marked his first rehab game as he works back from a pinched nerve in his upper back. He had multiple hard-hit outs. Nieuwenhuis committed a fielding error in center field.
Right-hander Erik Goeddel allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in one relief inning as he rehabs an elbow strain. His fastball was clocked between 92-94 mph. Goeddel had trouble throwing his curveball for strikes. He has yet to appear in back-to-back games, which likely is a prerequisite to being activated from the disabled list.
Wright, returning from spinal stenosis, has now appeared in three games (two in the field) this week. He is 4-for-11 with a walk so far on his rehab assignment. Wright could join the Mets as soon as next weekend's series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies.
Because Nieuwenhuis is out of options, the Mets would have to pass him through waivers in order to send him to Triple-A Las Vegas once his rehab assignment is complete. Even if he cleared, Nieuwenhuis could declare free agency because he already has been outrighted to the minors once by the Mets.
Rookie left-hander Steven Matz is due to begin a rehab assignment Saturday with St. Lucie. He is expected to throw 25 pitches.
