Wright named to NL All-Star squad

FLUSHING -- New York Mets third baseman David Wright, who is currently third in the National League with 70 RBI, has been named to replace injured Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano, at Tuesday's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. The announcement was made by Major League Baseball.

For Wright, it will be his third consecutive All-Star appearance after also representing the NL at the 2006 Mid-Summer Classic in Pittsburgh as well as in 2007 in San Francisco. In 2006, he also participated in the Century 21 Home Run Derby and finished second to Philadelphia's Ryan Howard. The following day, Wright became only the second Met in franchise history to hit a home run during the All-Star Game, matching the feat accomplished by Lee Mazzilli in 1979, and the 14th player to hit a home run in their first All-Star Game at-bat. At the 2007 game, Wright was voted the starting third baseman for the second time and went 1-3 in the game as the National League fell to their American League counterparts, 5-4.

The 25-year old leads the Mets in home runs and RBI and has the second highest batting average on the team. By making his third All-Star Game appearance at third base, the Chesapeake, VA native will establish a new club record breaking Mets hitting coach Howard Johnson's mark. Johnson was a two-time all-star at third base in 1989 and 1991.