Major League Baseball

Mets' Wright has muscle tear in rib cage

Published Mar. 14, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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David Wright's left rib cage injury has been diagnosed as a muscle tear, but the New York Mets third baseman said he'll be ready by opening day.

Wright returned to camp Wednesday after receiving a cortisone shot Monday in New York. The injury occurred during a fielding drill early in camp and he hasn't played in a spring-training game this year.

Wright is expected to resume baseball activities Thursday. He said he just needs about two weeks to prepare for the season, which starts April 4.

''I think I'm past the difficult part,'' Wright said. ''Now it's just a matter of getting back in the swing of things and making sure that I can get back on the field as soon as my body will allow me to, and then get some at-bats.''

Last week, he had been fielding grounders and running, but not hitting.

Wright said the cortisone shot was the best way for him to get on the field faster, but had the injury occurred during the season, he might have remained in the lineup. He played through a back injury for a while last season before finally getting a diagnosis.

''It wasn't so much a sharp pain. It's just more of an uncomfortable cramp,'' Wright said of his rib cage injury. ''This would have been one of the times where I would have hoped that I could have played through it, but it doesn't make any sense doing that now.''

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