KANSAS CITY -- It was late in Spring Training when third baseman David Wright looked up, saw the looks in his teammates' eyes and said to himself: "Enough with the practices. Enough with the Spring Training games. Let's get under the lights."
Wright should know the feeling well. His appearance on Sunday night at Kauffman Stadium marked his 12th consecutive Opening Day start with the Mets, passing Bud Harrelson and Tom Seaver for the most in franchise history.
Every year since 2005, Wright has started at third base on Opening Day. But this one may be among the most impactful for Wright, who played in merely 38 regular-season games last season after being diagnosed with spinal stenosis last May.