David Wright sent back to NY

Normally when you hear a Mets player is being sent back to New York for medical reasons you fear the worst. After all, the last time it happened the player was diagnosed with valley fever.

Mets third baseman David Wright is the latest to be sent back, but general manager Sandy Alderson was quick to say it was not considered a major issue.

Alderson said Wright was to receive an “ultrasound-guided” cortisone shot in his left rib cage, which he injured early in spring training. He has yet to play in any games, nor is he cleared to take at-bats, but he has been participating in defensive drills.

The Mets have had five different players come up with oblique or rib cage issues in camp, including Wright, who is by far the most important of the injured players.

Mets manager Terry Collins is hopeful the trip to New York will pave the way to a quick return for his All-Star third baseman.

“We will find out more tomorrow when he sees the doctor,” Collins told reporters in camp yesterday. “Hopefully he will give us the go-ahead [for baseball activity]. David has been itching to take some swings. We’ll know more tomorrow where we stand. … He’s real close. He’s real close to doing baseball activities. But the last hurdle is they’ll decide in New York what the next step is.”