Editor’s Note — As part of our countdown to 2025, WYDaily is revisiting its most-read and favorite stories of the year. Reporter Megan Roche explains that the New York Mets have always been her favorite baseball team, much to her own heartbreak. David Wright was the very first baseball player whose jersey she owned and he played such an important role as the organization’s third baseman when she attended games at Shea Stadium and Citi Field. He was also one of the kindest players she had the opportunity to meet. When his number was retired, she said she had to find a way to honor him here at home.

David Wright, a Hickory High School baseball player who went on to play for the New York Mets, will have his number retired by the organization tonight in a ceremony at Citi Field. (Norfolk Tides)

HAMPTON ROADS — In a special pre-game ceremony at Citi Field this afternoon, Hampton Roads baseball star David Wright will see his No. 5 hung in the rafters when the Mets officially retire his jersey number and enshrine him in the New York Mets Hall of Fame.

Wright, who played baseball at Hickory High School in Chesapeake, showed promise early.

“In ninth grade, you could tell that he was a step above a lot of the other players his age. I was also fortunate enough to coach Michael Cuddeyer, who also went on to play professionally, and I saw a lot of the same characteristics — both person-wise and athlete-wise — in David. He was humble, willing to work hard, came early and stayed late, didn’t seem above anybody else, but at the same time had talent,” said Stephen Gedro, Wright’s Hickory High coach.

Drafted by the New York Mets out of high school as the 38th pick in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, he exploded through the ranks of single and double A ball before returning to Hampton Roads as a member of the then Tidewater Tides, the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate at the time.

A young David Wright suited up for the Tidewater Tides. (Norfolk Tides)

In his time with the Tides, Wright played in 31 games, where he earned a .298 batting average, hit eight home runs and knocked in 17 RBIs. He was called up to the majors in July 2004.

Gedro recalls getting the opportunity to see Wright play shortly after his MLB debut.

“I remember going to see him play at Shea. He came out to take batting practice and I had gotten there early to watch. I was leaping over the rails when he came out and I remember calling out to him. I got yelled at by security but I kept telling them that he played high school ball for me, which they of course didn’t believe. Eventually David waved me over and we got to talk a bit and it was a great day,” Gedro said.

Wright played his entire MLB career with the Mets and is the fourth player in franchise history to have served as captain of the team. He appeared in seven MLB All-Star Games, won two Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards. He is the all-time Mets leader in hits, doubles, RBIs, runs scored, and total bases.

In 2009 and 2013, Wright represented Team USA as a member of the World Baseball Classic roster. For his performance in the 2013 classic, Wright earned himself the nickname Captain America. In a matchup against Italy, Wright hit a grand slam that ultimately put the U.S. over the top. He finished the tourney with a .438 batting average.

Wright’s career unfortunately took a hit in May 2015 when the third baseman was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. After undergoing multiple surgeries, he returned to the team late in the 2018 season for a final game. After a few innings, Wright was pulled from the game to a standing ovation at Citi Field. He ultimately retired from the sport in 2019 at 36.

David Wright speaks to the crowd at Harbor Park before being inducted into the Tidewater Baseball Shrine. (Norfolk Tides)

In August of 2019, Wright was inducted into the Tidewater Baseball Shrine at Norfolk’s Harbor Park.

“Excited, humbled, honored are just some of the words to describe the thought of this summer’s Mets Hall of Fame induction and seeing #5 up at Citi Field next to some of the best players to ever play the game,” Wright said in a statement after the Mets had announced plans to retire his number. “A big thank you to Steve and Alex Cohen and the entire Mets organization for this surreal honor. I can’t quite put into words the appreciation I have for the city of New York and Mets fans. 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. Thank you for the continued support and I can’t wait to see you on July 19.”

Wright’s number will take its place in the rafters at Citi Field amongst those of pitcher Tom Seaver, catcher Mike Piazza, pitcher Jerry Koosman, first baseman Keith Hernandez, centerfielder Willie Mays, pitcher Dwight Gooden, right fielder Daryl Strawberry, and managers Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges.

He will join Seaver as the only players to enter the Mets Hall of Fame on the same day as their number retirement.

“David Wright personified class on and off the field,” said Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen. “David is the definition of a Met. He grew up going to Mets Triple-A games in his hometown of Norfolk … 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. He continues to contribute to the organization today serving as an ambassador.”

Gedro reached out to Wright after the announcement and had time to reflect on the person who he coached all those years ago.

“A lot of times, players look up to coaches, but I think for me, we could all learn a lot from David and who he is as a person,” Gedro said.

The ceremony for Wright will take place this afternoon ahead of the Mets 4:10 p.m. game against the Cincinnati Reds.