The New York Mets inducted David Wright into their Hall of Fame and retired his No. 5 on Saturday — nearly 21 years after his big league debut.

“I went straight from the airport to the ballpark and I couldn’t wait to see what number I was going to be,” Wright said at a press conference Saturday. “That spring I was 72, and I would have been perfectly happy with 72. “But later on I found out that Charlie Samuels, the old equipment guy, gave me 5 because of Brooks Robinson and George Brett.”

Wright, who debuted against the Montreal Expos on July 21, 2004, appeared to be on track to join Robinson and Brett as a Hall of Fame third baseman when he hit .301 with 222 homers, 876 RBIs and an .888 OPS through his first 10 seasons.

But Wright played just 211 more games while battling chronic back, shoulder and neck injuries as well as a diagnosis of spinal stenosis. He went more than two years between big league appearances before concluding his career with a pair of cameos in September 2018.

“There was nothing that I could do to do the thing anymore,” Wright said. “It took a while for my brain and my heart to kind of match up with that. But I think that very, very few athletes get the ending that they want — that storybook ending. I certainly wouldn’t call mine a storybook ending, but it’s better than 99% of what athletes get and I’ll forever be thankful for getting that opportunity.”

Wright, the Mets’ most recent captain and the only player in team history to have his number retired after spending his entire career with the club, expressed his gratitude throughout a speech that capped a half-hour ceremony emceed by broadcaster Howie Rose.

Wright, emerging from the third base side of Citi Field, walked to a gold-plated third base, stood atop the bag and blew kisses to the sellout crowd. In an appropriate Mets touch, a plane taking off from nearby LaGuardia ascended into view moments after his No. 5 was unveiled high above the left field seats.

Wright is the 35th member of the Mets’ Hall of Fame and the 11th individual to have his number retired, joining managers Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges as well as Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Jerry Koosman, Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden as well as Jackie Robinson, whose No. 42 is retired throughout Major League Baseball.

Slumping Dodgers’ star Betts benched

Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, mired in one of the worst slumps of his career, was benched for Saturday night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, and manager Dave Roberts said he may hold the veteran shortstop out of Sunday’s lineup as well.

“No, this wasn’t scheduled,” Roberts said of the rare day off for Betts. “In talking to him, seeing where his head’s at and seeing where he’s at mechanically, I just felt tonight was a night that he needed to be down. He wanted to be out there, but I wanted to take it out of his hands, give him a day to just watch a baseball game.

“I understand that we just had four days off for the (All-Star) break, but showing up to the ballpark and not participating, watching, that’s a different mindset, a different psyche, than being at home. I think for the mind, it will be beneficial.”

Betts, the 2018 AL Most Valuable Player with the Boston Red Sox, entered Saturday with a .241 average, .688 OPS, 11 homers, 13 doubles and 45 RBIs in 116 games, production far below his career .291 average and .884 OPS.

But the 32-year-old’s struggles have worsened since early June.

Betts, who made the transition from right field to shortstop this season, has hit .188 (23 for 128) with a .527 OPS, two homers, two doubles and four RBIs in 32 games since June 8, including two strikeouts and two groundouts in Friday night’s 2-0 loss to the Brewers.

Phillies’ Bohm has fractured left rib

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has a fractured left rib and was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Bohm was injured a week ago when San Diego’s Yu Darvish hit him with a pitch. He sat out Sunday against the Padres before the All-Star break, then played Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

Bohm is hitting .278 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 92 games this season.

Utility player Weston Wilson was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to the Phillies’ game Saturday night game against the Angels to take Bohm’s spot on the roster.

Yankees’ Gil impresses in second rehab start

Yankees manager Aaron Boone watched right-handed pitcher Luis Gil’s second rehab start on video and said Saturday he was pleased with what he saw.

“Stuff was good, decent command,” said Boone, who watched a recording of Friday’s game on Saturday morning. “More importantly, another step and kind of building that pitch count into 57 pitches.”

Gil threw 3 1/3 innings for Double-A Somerset, striking out seven while allowing two hits and two runs. He gave up a two-run homer in the first inning. Gil threw 39 of his 57 pitches for strikes. He is scheduled for one more minor league start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday before possibly making his 2025 debut with the Yankees.

Gil suffered a strained lat in spring training that has kept him out of the Yankees rotation all season. The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA with 171 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings last season. His first rehab start was on July 13 and was also 3 1/3 innings.

Nationals sign No. 1 pick Willits

Eli Willits didn’t want to waste time before signing his first pro contract. The 17-year-old shortstop is on a tight schedule.

Willits agreed to terms with the Washington Nationals on Saturday, only six days after the club selected him No. 1 overall in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.

“I’ve set a goal to be in the big leagues by the time I’m 20, and that’s something I’m really excited to do,” Willits said during an introductory news conference at Nationals Park. “Hopefully, I get out there and start playing well and that can be something I can accomplish in the next few years.”

A switch-hitter from Fort Cobb-Broxton High School in Oklahoma, Willits is the son of Reggie Willits, who played six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels and also coached with the New York Yankees.

Willits, the youngest player picked No. 1 overall since Seattle chose Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987, will fly to Washington’s spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday and begin to get workouts with the team’s player development staff.

Nationals interim general manager Mike DeBartolo, who was elevated to his current role when Washington fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez on July 6, said the club will see how things unfold in the next couple weeks before making any further decisions.

“One of the things that attracted us to Eli was how motivated he is, his work ethic, how focused he is,” DeBartolo said. “I love that about him. Certainly, I’m not going to put any timelines on anybody. He hasn’t stepped on a pro field yet, but I love that that’s his outlook and we’re certainly going to do everything we can to make that possible.”

Briefly

Brewers >> Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick landed on the injured list Friday with a hamstring strain to begin the second half. He got hurt making a sliding catch in the final game before the All-Star break last Sunday. The Brewers activated Blake Perkins off the 60-day IL to take Frelick’s roster spot.