The New York Mets have a new‑look roster heading into the upcoming MLB season, and one of the most intriguing pieces is outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
The 28‑year‑old was acquired earlier in the offseason in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, a deal that had been discussed since last year’s trade deadline before finally coming together.
Robert brings significant upside to the Mets as a former All‑Star, Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award winner.
However, injuries have slowed him over the past two seasons, causing him to miss more than 100 games while dealing with a left hamstring strain, adductor soreness and recurring lower‑body issues that limited his availability.
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Even when healthy, he has only shown flashes of the dynamic player he once was, but given his age and talent, the Mets viewed him as a calculated risk.
Unfortunately, that risk is already being tested. Spring training has barely begun, and Robert is dealing with another lower‑body setback.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza shared Tuesday that the team is “slow-playing” Robert and that he will not appear in spring training games immediately, according to Chelsea Janes of SportsNet New York.
Mendoza explained that team trainers identified multiple areas of weakness in Robert’s lower half that need to be strengthened before he ramps up.
While it is encouraging that the Mets caught these issues early, it is still concerning that the injury that ended his 2025 season remains a factor months later.
Carlos Mendoza said when Mets’ trainers started working with Luis Robert, they identified a few things in his lower half that needed to be strengthened in hopes of avoiding injury issues he had in past. The are “slow-playing” him, won’t appear in spring training games right away.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) February 17, 2026
Even so, the expectation remains that Robert will be ready by Opening Day. The Mets are hoping he can resemble the version of himself that appeared late last season.
In 31 games during the second half of 2025, Robert posted a .298 batting average, .352 on‑base percentage, .808 OPS, five home runs and 18 RBIs. It was a small sample, but it was the most encouraging stretch he had shown in more than a year.
If the Mets can keep him healthy, Robert has the talent to be a difference‑maker in their lineup. For a team pushing to return to the postseason, unlocking his full potential could be one of the keys to their 2026 season.
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