David Wright has back surgery month after shoulder procedure

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Friday, October 6, 2017

New York Metsthird baseman David Wright had a laminotomy procedure on his lower back Thursday in Los Angeles, the team announced.

The Mets did not give a timetable for Wright's return to baseball activities.

The procedure, which is typically done to alleviate nerve compression in the back by removing a bony layer over the spinal canal, comes about a month after he had surgery to fix the rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

"Throughout this entire rehab process, I have been driven to get back on the field as quickly as I can," Wright said in a statement. "That's why I had the shoulder surgery and that's why today I underwent back surgery to reduce the risk of further issues going forward. With these two surgeries behind me, I hope to be able to put on a Mets uniform again as soon as possible. My desire to play is as strong as ever."

Wright, who is guaranteed $47 million by the Mets over the next three seasons, last played in the majors in May 2016 and had surgery the following month to repair a herniated disk in his neck. He was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2015 and appeared in only 75 regular-season games between 2015 and '16, plus 14 postseason appearances.

The seven-time All-Star spent the majority of this year rehabbing at the club's spring training complex in Florida, eventually playing in three games for Class A St. Lucie in late August before being shut down with pain in his throwing shoulder.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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