David Wright took batting practice on Monday

David Wright has not suited up for the Mets in over two years, but there was another on-field sighting at Citi Field on Monday.

Since the start of the 2015 season, David Wright has played just 75 games for the New York Mets due to back, shoulder and neck issues and subsequent surgeries. His last major league appearance came on May 27, 2016, but earlier this month he fielded ground balls at Citi Field as a sign of progress in his comeback.

After a good start this season, the Mets have faded to 31-45 and 13.5 games back in the NL East entering Tuesday’s action. So they will be a seller as the trade deadline nears, with no one theoretically off-limits to offers from contending teams.

But on Monday, before a home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a glimmer of hope came in the form of another Wright sighting.

For what it’s worth, Wright appeared to be exerting (and able to exert, most importantly) full effort taking hacks in the batting cage without any sign of discomfort. He is sure to get some days off from “baseball activities” now, in order to avoid any physical repercussions with that ramp up in activity and/or determine if there will be any.

Wright was once on a borderline Hall of Fame career track, with seven All-Star selections, five seasons with over 25 home runs and 100-plus RBI, two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards over an eight-season span from 2006-2013. Three serious injuries in quick succession have taken that away very quickly though, and the Mets will be paying Wright another $37 million or so through the 2020 season.

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It would be easy for Wright to be discouraged, give up his comeback attempt, retire and collect the rest of his contract. But his effort to return should be commended, even if it still feels unlikely to come to full fruition.