Thursday, May 17, 2012

Citi Field to hold ’13 All-Star Game

The Mets will hold their second All-Star Game and Citi Field will hold its first Mid-Summer Classic next season. The official announcement will be made this morning at City Hall.

The Post’s Ken Davidoff first reported the news, which has been discussed for several years. Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be on hand Wednesday for the announcement.

“It’s great for the city,” David Wright, a five-time All-Star, said before the Mets’ 8-0 loss to the Brewers on Tuesday night at Citi Field. “I got a chance to participate in the one that closed out Yankee Stadium [in 2008]. It’s a tremendous stage for an All-Star Game.”

Asked what he thought it would be like to play in the game in his own stadium, Wright replied, “We’re talking about a long ways away. I haven’t even thought about that.”

Wright is not only not guaranteed an All-Star berth a year from now, but contractually he is not assured of being in the Mets organization.

This will be the ninth time New York has hosted the All-Star Game. Yankee Stadium has hosted the exhibition four times, in 1939, 1960, 1977 and 2008. The Brooklyn Dodgers’ former home, Ebbets Field, held the game in 1949, while the New York Giants’ old park, the Polo Grounds, saw the stars come in 1934 and 1942.

The Mets hosted the All-Star Game at Shea Stadium in 1964, the third season of the franchise and the inaugural year of the new park. The National League won 7-4, thanks to a two-out, three-run walk-off homer by the Phillies’ Johnny Callison.

Forty-nine years later, the game will be back in the Mets’ home.

“It’s going to be a tremendous stage for the Mid-Summer Classic,” Mets manager Terry Collins said.

***

No longer experiencing symptoms from his concussion, catcher Josh Thole was back in the Mets clubhouse and was set to see a doctor to determine his status going forward.

Thole suffered a concussion two Mondays ago when he was drilled in a home plate collision with the Phillies’ Ty Wigginton.

Thole has been on the seven-day disabled list since then, and initially was suffering from headaches and light sensitivity, with his days consisting of sleep and rest.

Thole said he’s feeling better and has not had any symptoms since last Friday.

“Every day is a day better,” he said.

He took an ImPACT concussion test and still was awaiting the results. Collins said he believes once Thole is cleared, he will require minor-league rehab games before rejoining the Mets.

“It’s something that you don’t want to rush back into,” Thole said.

While Thole said he’s unsure how many concussions he has had in his career, he called the latest one “the final straw” and said he will begin wearing a hockey-style mask that offers him better protection. Former Mets catcher Brian Schneider is among the big-league backstops who prefer that model.

Thole also had no issue with the role of Wigginton — another former Met — in the collision.

“I watched the replay. I got lucky,” Thole said. “He could have crushed me if he wanted to.”

***

Right-hander Chris Young (shoulder) was scheduled to make his second start for Class A St. Lucie, but the game was rained out. Young will pitch the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. The veteran fired five scoreless innings for St. Lucie in his first turn.

***

Ike Davis, who went 0-for-3 with a strikeout last night, is hitting .164 and had almost twice as many strikeouts (37) as hits (20) through his 35 games.

“I haven’t found a hole yet this year,” the first baseman said.

It’s a total contrast to how Davis began last season. Before his season-ending leg injury, he was batting .302 with seven homers, 25 RBIs and a .383 on-base percentage in 36 games.

mark.hale@nypost.com

The Mets, Mets, Citi Field, David Wright, Josh Thole, Major League Baseball, Yankee Stadium, New York, Ken Davidoff, Mets manager Terry Collins, Fred Wilpon

Nypost.com

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