New York Mets shut down 3B David Wright with spinal injury

New York Mets third baseman has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, disrupting his rehab as he attempts to return from the disabled list.

New York Mets third baseman David Wright has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, disrupting his rehab as he attempts to return from the disabled list, the team announced Saturday. 

Wright has been on the disabled list since April 15 with a hamstring strain. He developed back pain earlier this month, which flared up again recently, the team said. 

"He's still experiencing some lower-back tightness," assistant GM John Ricco said, according to ESPN.com. "It's at the point where we're going to stop the on-field stuff for a week, continue with a program of core strengthening and basically back-stabilization exercises. They hope that will alleviate what he's feeling.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column. Symptoms include "numbness, weakness, cramping, or pain in your arms or legs," according to the National Institues of Health. It is the same injury that forced former Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra to retire. New York Giants running back David Wilson also retired after being diagnosed with stenosis. 

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The Mets had initially expected Wright would begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week. 

Wright, 33, has only played eight games this season, picking up 11 hits in 33 at-bats. The Mets have used Eric Campbell and Daniel Murphy at third base in his absence. Murphy will play second base while 21-year-old middle infield prospect Dilson Herrera recovers from a broken finger. Campbell is batting .197 this season with a .625 OPS.

- Dan Gartland