David Wright to DH in Monday rehab

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- New York Mets captain David Wright will serve as the designated hitter Monday and play third base Tuesday as his rehab assignment officially begins with Class A St. Lucie.

Wright last played in a game on April 14, when he departed in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies with a right hamstring strain. He subsequently has been sidelined by spinal stenosis in his lower back.

Wright completed five straight days of baseball activity Saturday. He spent most of the summer undergoing physical therapy on his back in Los Angeles.

Wright hopes that a similar number of minor league at-bats to when he was returning from a stress fracture in his lower back in 2011 should be sufficient to prepare for a return to the majors. That time, Wright had 21 at-bats over six games with the Florida State League club.

"There's not much more preparation I can do other than games," Wright said while visiting the Mets last week in Miami.