Luis Robert Jr. Leaves His Mark in Mets Spring Debut

Luis Robert Jr. made his first appearance for the New York Mets on Thursday, batting cleanup and playing five innings in center field. His debut in a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals followed a slow ramp-up conditioning program designed to protect his lower body from the hip and hamstring issues that have sidelined him in recent years.

Robert made his presence felt in the fourth inning, lining a single into left field off Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy with a 107 mph exit velocity.

The ball was the hardest-hit of the afternoon and showed the bat speed that made Robert an important offseason addition to the middle of the Mets’ lineup. In the field, he moved well in center, handling routine fly balls and backing up plays in the gap.

Manager Carlos Mendoza reiterated the club’s high expectations while stressing a cautious approach to Robert’s workload.

“If we keep this guy healthy, the sky’s the limit,” Mendoza told SNY before the game. “We’ve seen it, in 2023 when he was healthy, he was one of the best players in the league. The tools are unbelievable. He can go get it in the outfield, he’s got speed, he can steal bases, and he can hit the ball as far as anybody.”

That 2023 season is the clearest example of Robert’s upside. He hit 38 home runs and 36 doubles that year while emerging as one of most dynamic players in the league with the Chicago White Sox. By holding Robert out of the first two weeks of Grapefruit League play, the Mets hope to translate that peak into sustained production over a full season.

“I think the year that I played almost a full season, those numbers that I was able to put up, I think I can put up that type of year again, or even better,” he said.

Robert said through a translator that he feels fully healthy and comfortable with the team’s plan.

“When I arrived here I felt like I was 100 percent, and right now I still feel like I’m 100 percent,” Robert said. “The plan they have for me has been great. I feel strong, and I’m just happy to finally be out there with my teammates.”

“He’s good to go,” Mendoza affirmed.

Mendoza added that Robert’s schedule will be determined through constant communication.

“It’s a conversation I need to have with him after every game,” Mendoza said. “The good thing is he knows there’s a plan in place and that we care and have his best interests in mind.”

The next step will be testing Robert’s recovery by scheduling him for back-to-back starts, with the goal of getting him to a full nine-inning workload by the final week of the spring schedule.

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