For Mets centerfielder Luis Robert Jr., just being on the field is key
Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. during a spring training workout on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
JUPITER, Fla. — Luis Robert Jr. is showing his muscle. Now the Mets just have to keep said muscles healthy.
Robert, who was acquired from the White Sox in the offseason and homered on Friday, is playing minor-league games on alternate days. But manager Carlos Mendoza on Saturday indicated that the kid gloves soon may come off.
Robert, who missed the last two months of 2025 with a hamstring injury and lost significant playing time the last two years because of various lower-body injuries, could get into a Grapefruit League game as early as Thursday, Mendoza said. That, finally, will be a chance for him to truly showcase the considerable power he’s demonstrated during live batting practice, in simulated games and against minor-league pitching in spring training.
“We’ve seen it in the past,” Mendoza said. “He’s in a good place right now. You just watch him take batting practice and the way the ball comes off the bat, it’s just different. Our goal is to keep him on the field. If he stays on the field, it could be special.”
The former All-Star was last (mostly) healthy in 2023, when he hit 38 homers and had a .264/.315/.542 slash line. But he hit .224 in 2024 and .223 in 2025 with a combined 28 homers in 220 games.
“The more games I play, the more opportunity I have to have success,” Robert said last month via an interpreter. “The ultimate goal is to be able to stay out on the field, and once I’m able to stay out on the field, I think things are going to turn out the way I want.”
Notes & quotes: Francisco Lindor (hamate surgery) is continuing with his progression, both fielding and hitting . . . David Peterson’s start Monday has been bumped a day, but Mendoza said the lefthander is healthy. “We’re just trying to give him an extra day after the first outing,” he said. “He was going to go on regular rest and [we just thought], let’s move him a day.’’ Brandon Waddell will pitch against the Marlins at Clover Park instead . . . Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley each pitched one inning of scoreless relief in the Mets’ 3-2 win over the Cardinals . . . Jack Wenninger, the Mets’ No. 7 prospect, continued to impress, tossing three perfect innings against the Cardinals and striking out five. Wenninger has a 2.70 ERA in four appearances and has struck out 10 in 6 2⁄3 innings.
Laura Albanese is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. She's been covering MLB since 2014 after starting at Newsday as an intern seven years earlier.
