The moment David Wright became an ideal Mets role model for David Peterson

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David Peterson was in his first full season professionally, pitching for Single-A St. Lucie in 2018 when he received his first exposure to a Mets icon, attempting a comeback for his last hurrah.
It was during those interactions with a rehabbing David Wright that Peterson received a crash course on determination.
Peterson recalled arriving for a game in Clearwater, Fla., to find Wright already at the ballpark, exercising his lower back, which was compromised by spinal stenosis.
'He spent four hours getting ready to play three innings in a rehab game,' Peterson said Saturday prior to the Mets' 5-2 loss to the Reds. 'To look up to a guy like that and for him to want to do that in the condition that he was in, I have the utmost respect for him. I learned a lot in that small time to be a professional, the right way to go about things.'
The Mets held a pregame ceremony on Saturday to retire Wright's No. 5.
Wright, a former Mets captain, joined Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry among players who have received the honor from the organization.
Peterson is among the current Mets, along with Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, who have a history with Wright.
'He's a guy that I looked up to and I think whether you played with him or not in the big leagues, his presence and the standard that he holds himself and others to is felt throughout the organization,' Peterson said. 'I am glad we're finally here and can celebrate the player and person that he is for the organization.'
It's been a week of celebrations for Peterson, who on Tuesday represented the National League in the All-Star Game. Peterson pitched a scoreless inning in the NL's 7-6 victory that was decided by a home run hitting contest.
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Peterson, who is scheduled to start Sunday against the Reds, called it an 'awesome' experience that was only heightened by the fact he got to share the moment with teammates Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz.
One thing seems certain: Peterson's stock within the organization has never been higher. Once a spare part, the left-hander has become a key piece of the rotation, beginning with his availability every fifth or sixth day.
Since returning in May of 2024 from hip surgery, Peterson has been a dependable arm for the Mets. He finished the first half this season with a team-best 109 innings pitched and will take a 3.06 ERA into his Sunday start.
'I always felt like that's what I wanted to be and that I was going to be able to get to it,' Peterson said. 'I think that was part of the frustration early on was mentally knowing what I was capable of, but not necessarily knowing that I was limited physically because it was pain and discomfort [in the hip] over time. It wasn't an acute thing where you are like, 'This is wrong.'
'Once we were kind of able to clean up some of the physical stuff and be able to physically see what I know I was mentally capable of … those two connect a lot better and it has been huge.'