Luis Robert Jr. Debuts with Mets, Aiming for Star Form

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The New York Mets have finally put center-fielder Luis Robert Jr. in the lineup during spring

training.

They traded for him from the Chicago White Sox, and after weeks of physical prep, he debuted

Friday in a great-fruit league game against the St. Louis.

Cardinals.

Robert played center-fiel in Baddie Cleanup.

The team took a careful approach because of his injury history, including a hamstring

strain last August that ended his season.

They required a full strengthening program before letting him play.

Robert showed up in great shape from winter workouts, and now the focus is on getting

his timing sharp against live pitching.

Fans had been eager for this moment, checking scores daily since the trade.

The Mets gave him a strong lineup ahead with players like Marcus Semyon, Jorge Palanco,

and Boba Shet, plus Brett Beatty and Francisco Alvarez in the ring.

Mix, it felt like a taste of the regular season against the Cardinals' regulars.

Robert has had tough stats lately, with performance 16% below league average the past two years.

But he's shown before, hitting nearly 40 home runs with 20 steals in 2023, and even

better in 2021.

The Mets hope a change of scenery sparks his return to starform as the 2026 season nears.

They're counting on their winning vibe to help him reclaim that elite level consistently.

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